Compare towns
Hadley vs Hatfield vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Hadley 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hatfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.