Compare towns
Maynard vs Edgartown vs Stow 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).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
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 | Edgartown | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
5,278Lowest |
7,165 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Edgartown 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% |
10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown 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% |
56.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Edgartown 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 |
$125,236±$33k 20% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,796±$470 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Maynard and Edgartown 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 |
$5,641 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Edgartown 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Edgartown | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | — | 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.