Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Wakefield vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Stow | Wakefield | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165 |
27,793Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Wakefield 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Wakefield 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Stow and Wakefield 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 |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Wakefield and Maynard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
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.