Compare towns
Douglas 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
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
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 | Douglas | Hadley | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% 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 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Douglas 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 |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hadley | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
7.3Highest |
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.