Hopedale vs Medway
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in Medway, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for one tier of schooling.
Medway is about 5 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Hopedale works out roughly $2,400 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR — despite having the higher rate of the two, because the bill follows the house.
Choose Hopedale if you want the lower price.
All Hopedale numbers →Choose Medway if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Medway numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsMedway ahead on 4 of 9, 1 against
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 63rd | 82nd |
| Student growth | 48th | 48th |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 93.2% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 161st of 361 | 54th of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $19,165 | $19,109 |
| Schools in the district | 2 | 3 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 1 | 9 |
What a home costsHopedale ahead on 5 of 6, 1 against
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $600kT2 | $850kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $460k | $650k |
| 2BR condo | $340k | $480k |
| 3BR rent | $3,523/mo | $3,083/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $173k | $236k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.2% a year | 5.4% a year |
What you pay the townEven, 1 each of 4
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $16.50T4 | $14.50T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$9,900 | ≈$12,300 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,310 | $5,190 |
| Share of budget on schools | 47% | 48% |
Getting to workMedway ahead on 2 of 3
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 65 minT4 | 60 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 28 mi | 25 mi |
Before kindergartenMedway ahead on 3 of 4
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 4 | 18 |
| Child care places | 145 | 732 |
| Centers vs family programs | 2 centers | 12 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 57 | 126 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Hopedale | Medway | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,017 | 13,115 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
