Compare towns
Hadley vs Lee 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).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
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 | Lee | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
5,719 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Lee and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
21 minHighest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Lee | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Lee Middle/High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.2 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.