Compare towns
Maynard vs Chilmark 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 the youngest population (median age 45.3).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Ipswich | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
1,578Lowest |
13,930Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Chilmark and Ipswich 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Hadley 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% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Chilmark and Ipswich 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 |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Chilmark and Maynard 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% 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% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich 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% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%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 |
1984Highest 20 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 |
32 min 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 | — | #101 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Up-Island Regional | 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.