Compare towns
Maynard vs Middlefield 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).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Middlefield | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
352Lowest |
7,165 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield 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% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$103,750±$23kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Middlefield and Maynard 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 |
$4,926Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%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 |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | — | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | 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.