Compare towns
Maynard vs Acton vs Ipswich vs Hadley
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 most homeowners (75%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Maynard | Acton | Ipswich | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
24,155Highest |
13,930 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hadley 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% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Ipswich 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% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Acton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Acton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Ipswich | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Ipswich High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.0 |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.