Compare towns

Hadley vs Marblehead vs Hatfield

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).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).

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.

MeasureHadleyMarbleheadHatfield
People
Population
5,306
20,413Highest
3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1Lowest
15% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
46.8±5
17% above MA
Marblehead and Hatfield 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%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.6
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%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Hatfield 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
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$89,005±$25kLowest
14% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$511,000±$43k
9% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$440,800±$26kLowest
22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,267±$216Lowest
28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,271
12% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$4,930Lowest
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8
MA: 51.8%
Marblehead and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
20 min
30% below MA
Work from home
20.1%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #116 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #198 of 282 in MA
School district Hadley Marblehead Hatfield
High school in town Hopkins Academy Marblehead High Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
7.3
10.7Highest
6.1Lowest
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.