Compare towns

Hadley vs Hatfield vs Ware

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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).

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.

MeasureHadleyHatfieldWare
People
Population
5,306
3,325Lowest
10,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
46.8±5Highest
17% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
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%
19.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Ware 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%
23.3%±4.6
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
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
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% 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
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132Highest
20% below MA
$1,267±$216
28% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% 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
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Hatfield 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%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
74.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
20 min
30% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
20.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hadley and Hatfield 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 #267 of 282 in MA
School district Hadley Hatfield Ware
High school in town Hopkins Academy Smith Academy Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.3
6.1Lowest
11.1Highest
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.