Compare towns
Douglas vs Easthampton vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Douglas | Easthampton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
16,086Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Hadley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Douglas and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Easthampton | Hadley |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Easthampton High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.8Highest |
7.3 |
| 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.