Compare towns
Maynard vs Acton vs Hadley vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Maynard | Acton | Hadley | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
24,155Highest |
5,306Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% 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 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 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+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Hadley | Ashland |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hopkins Academy | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
7.3Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.