Compare towns
Maynard vs Brewster 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%).
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
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 | Brewster | Ipswich | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
10,420 |
13,930Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Ipswich and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 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 |
$4,397Lowest 27% 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% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Ipswich 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Brewster | Ipswich | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Ipswich High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 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.