Compare towns
Hadley vs Northampton vs Upton vs Easthampton
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Northampton | Upton | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
30,962Highest |
8,189 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
| Upton and Easthampton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Upton 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±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Northampton 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 |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Northampton High | Blackstone Valley | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.2 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.