Compare towns
Hadley vs Northampton vs Easthampton vs Maynard
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).
Northampton has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Maynard has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Northampton | Easthampton | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
30,962Highest |
16,086 |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Easthampton 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% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard 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% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton 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% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$12k 15% above MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Maynard 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Easthampton | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Northampton High | Easthampton High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
9.8 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.