What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Maynard	South Hadley
People
Population	10,712Lowest	17,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Maynard and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Maynard and South Hadley 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%	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	South 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%	50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
	Maynard and South 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	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$5,500Lowest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	South Hadley 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%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and South 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	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	South Hadley
High school in town	Maynard High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.