Compare towns
Maynard vs Athol vs Ipswich vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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 | Athol | Ipswich | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
12,011 |
13,930Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hadley 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Ipswich 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% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Ipswich 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Ipswich 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Ipswich 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 6% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Maynard and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Athol-Royalston | Ipswich | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Athol High | Ipswich High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.6Highest |
9.0 |
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.