Compare towns
Maynard vs Dover vs Northborough 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Dover | Northborough | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
5,930 |
15,750Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
45±3 13% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Maynard 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dover and Northborough 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 |
$7,983 33% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Northborough 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Algonquin Regional High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8 |
10.8Highest |
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.