What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hawley has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hawley	Maynard
People
Population	277Lowest	10,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.3% MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA	45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA
	Hawley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hawley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Maynard and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA	$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA
	Maynard and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,600±$38kLowest 45% below MA	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,800±$148 about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,097Lowest 32% below MA	$8,266Highest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hawley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest MA: 62.5%	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963 1 yr older than MA	1963 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±12.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and Hawley 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	—	#166 of 282 in MA
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.