Compare towns
Maynard vs Sterling vs Westminster 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 the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
8,183 |
8,374 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Sterling and Westminster 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% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$16k 19% above MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Westminster 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 13.6Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.