What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Essex	Hadley
People
Population	3,701Lowest	5,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3.4Lowest 13% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Essex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA	$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Essex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 14% below MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Manchester Essex Regional	Hadley
High school in town	None in town	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.