Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gardner vs Webster vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the oldest population (median age 46).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Easthampton | Gardner | Webster | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
21,148Highest |
12,228 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below 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 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 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 | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Gardner | — | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Gardner High | — | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
13.5Highest |
— | 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.