Compare towns
Easthampton vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
27,793Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Hadley 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%±1.9Lowest 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Wakefield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.7Highest |
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.