Compare towns
Dedham vs Hadley vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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.
| Measure | Dedham | Hadley | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dedham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hadley | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.