Compare towns
Hadley vs Halifax vs Plympton
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).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Halifax | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
7,748Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Plympton 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Plympton 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton 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±$43k 9% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Plympton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Halifax and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Plympton 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Halifax | Plympton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
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| 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.