Compare towns
Hadley vs Hatfield vs Springfield vs Northampton
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 the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Springfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
154,749Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
21 minHighest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hatfield | Springfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy | Springfield Central High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.