Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainfield vs Hadley vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).
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 | Plainfield | Hadley | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
15,141 |
5,306Lowest |
19,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Plainfield 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 54% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$236,250±$17kHighest 193% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42kHighest 197% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,445±$895 about the U.S. average |
| Maynard and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Maynard and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sudbury 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Plainfield School District | Hadley | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Plainfield High School | Hopkins Academy | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.3 |
7.3Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.