Compare towns

Maynard 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
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.

MeasureMaynardNorthboroughHadley
People
Population
10,712
15,750Highest
5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
45±3Lowest
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%
21.6%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Northborough 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%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
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%
65.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Northborough 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
$153,199±$19kHighest
47% above MA
$119,259±$12kLowest
15% above MA
Northborough 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
$620,000±$24kHighest
10% above MA
$511,000±$43kLowest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$1,919±$269Highest
9% above MA
$1,402±$132Lowest
20% below MA
Northborough 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
$7,983
33% above MA
$5,271Lowest
12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
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%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
9% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Maynard and Northborough 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 #35 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Northborough · Northboro-Southboro Hadley
High school in town Maynard High Algonquin Regional High Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
10.8Highest
7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.