Compare towns
Everett vs Hadley vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Everett | Hadley | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
5,306Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Hadley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Hadley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Northbridge 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Hadley | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Everett High | Hopkins Academy | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.