Compare towns
Maynard vs Hadley vs Upton 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Hadley | Upton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
5,306Lowest |
8,189 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ashland 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Upton 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% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Ashland 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 |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Upton and Ashland 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 |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
| Ashland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Upton 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Upton 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashland |
| High school in town | — | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
11.2 |
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.