Compare towns
Hadley vs Rye vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Rye | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
5,611Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Boylston 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Rye School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.