Compare towns
Hadley vs Brookline vs Boylston
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).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Brookline | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
63,266Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookline and Boylston 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% |
15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Brookline and Boylston 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 |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookline and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 minHighest 7% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Brookline and Boylston 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Brookline | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Brookline High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.