Compare towns
Hadley vs Boston vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Hadley | Boston | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
666,442Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Boston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Boston Latin School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
18.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.