Compare towns
Maynard vs Ashby 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Ashby | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,211Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Ashby 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% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% 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 | $527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% 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 | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Hadley 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.