Compare towns
Hadley vs Hingham vs Hull 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Hingham | Hull | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
24,283 |
10,138 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 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±$12k 15% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hingham | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Hingham High | — | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
12.9 |
— | 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.