Compare towns
Maynard vs Sterling vs Hadley
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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Sterling | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,629Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±7.1Highest 18% 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Sterling 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 54% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Sterling School District | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.