Compare towns
Hadley vs Hampton Falls vs Amherst Town
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hampton Falls | Amherst Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
2,328Lowest |
38,182Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
21.4±0.2Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
59.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$66,968±$7kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$484,900±$21kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,671±$93 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,787 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst Town 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 | — | #58 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hampton Falls School District | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Amherst Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.