Compare towns
Maynard vs Brewer 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%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Brewer | Hadley | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,652 |
5,306Lowest |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% 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. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 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% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Brewer 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% |
35%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% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Brewer 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. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% 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. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% 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. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% 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. |
$3,374Lowest 8% 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% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Ashland 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% |
12.5%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% |
59.7%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. |
1959Lowest 21 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. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #116 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Brewer Public Schools | Hadley | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Brewer High School | Hopkins Academy | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
14.0Highest |
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.