Compare towns
Maynard vs North Reading 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%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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 | North Reading | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
15,765Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Maynard 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%±2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | North Reading | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | North Reading High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.1Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.