Compare towns
Maynard vs Putnam vs Stow vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Putnam | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
9,292 |
7,165 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Highest 18% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Putnam 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% 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% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Putnam 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. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% 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% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
— | 7.3Lowest |
| 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.