Compare towns
Gardner vs Hadley vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
Hatfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Gardner | Hadley | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hadley | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.