Compare towns
Hadley vs Northbridge vs Boylston
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).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Northbridge | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
16,458Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
| Boylston 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 |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Boylston 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Northbridge | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Northbridge High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.8 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.