Compare towns
Hadley vs Hatfield vs Shelburne
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).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Highest |
3,325 |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 15% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA |
| 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 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Shelburne 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Shelburne 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.