Compare towns
Hadley vs Hatfield vs Needham
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).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Hatfield | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Needham 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hatfield | Needham |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.