Compare towns
Hadley vs Melrose 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).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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.
| Measure | Hadley | Melrose | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
29,650Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±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 |
$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Melrose 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 |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Melrose | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Melrose High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
12.8Highest |
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.