Compare towns
Hadley vs Brookline vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Highest |
531Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 69% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.