Compare towns
Hadley vs Hardwick vs Amherst Town
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 highest household income ($119k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Hardwick | Amherst Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
2,684Lowest |
38,182Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
21.4±0.2Lowest 47% below MA |
| Hadley and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
7.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
10.1%±1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
59.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$66,968±$7kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$484,900±$21k 14% below MA |
| Hadley and Amherst Town 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,671±$93Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,787Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amherst Town and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
23.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
44.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Amherst Town 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #58 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Quabbin | 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 |
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.