Compare towns
Maynard vs Maynard vs Wales vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Maynard | Wales | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
10,712Highest |
1,929Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Wales 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,534Lowest 24% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Maynard 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Maynard | Wales | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
— | 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.