Compare towns
Easthampton vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($372k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Easthampton | Needham | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
32,459Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Needham | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Needham High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
11.9Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.