Compare towns
Hadley vs Lee vs Rowley
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 most people working from home (20.1%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
5,719 |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
| Lee and Rowley 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Hadley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Lee 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Lee | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.2Highest |
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| 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.