Compare towns
Maynard vs Norton 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%).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Norton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
19,240Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
17.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norton 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest 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% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Norton and Hadley 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 |
$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Norton 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±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Norton 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 |
$5,929 about the MA average |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norton 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Norton | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Norton High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.9Highest |
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.