Compare towns
Hadley vs Rowley vs Webster vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hadley | Rowley | Webster | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
6,251 |
12,228Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Triton | — | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | — | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | — | 9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.