Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
616Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Plainfield and Hadley 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% 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±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older 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 |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | — | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 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.