Compare towns
Hadley 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).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Hull | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
10,138 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley and Northampton 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hadley 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% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Hadley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 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 |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hull | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Hull High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
8.8 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.