Compare towns
Maynard vs Putnam vs Hadley vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
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 | Putnam | Hadley | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,292 |
5,306Lowest |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard and Ashland 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Hadley | Ashland |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Hopkins Academy | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.3Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.