Compare towns
Maynard vs Reading vs Hadley vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Reading | Hadley | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
25,612Highest |
5,306Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hadley | Ashland |
| High school in town | — | — | Hopkins Academy | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3Lowest |
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.