Compare towns
Maynard vs Berlin vs Stow 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Berlin | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,378Lowest |
7,165 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Berlin 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hadley 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.