Compare towns
Hawley vs Maynard vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Hawley | Maynard | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 277Lowest |
10,712Highest |
352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±7.2 42% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hawley 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%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Maynard and Middlefield 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 |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Maynard and Middlefield 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 |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hawley 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% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±12.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Maynard | — |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.