Compare towns

Hadley vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

MeasureHadleySpringfieldMaynard
People
Population
5,306Lowest
154,749Highest
10,712
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1Highest
15% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
Hadley and Maynard 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
24.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
Hadley and Maynard 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%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Springfield 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
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$124,067±$16kHighest
19% above MA
Maynard and Hadley 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
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$527,400±$31kHighest
6% below MA
Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,271
12% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
8.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
20 min
31% below MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
20.1%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
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 #276 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA
School district Hadley Springfield Maynard
High school in town Hopkins Academy Springfield Central High Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.3Lowest
12.2Highest
9.7
On TownTapestry
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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.