Compare towns
Hadley vs Newfields vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Newfields | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Highest |
2,023Lowest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Boylston 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Newfields School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.