What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hadley	Norton
People
Population	5,306Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Hadley and Norton 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%	17.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norton 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±$12kLowest 15% above MA	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton 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±$43kHighest 9% below MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
	Hadley and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Hadley	Norton
High school in town	Hopkins Academy	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.3Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.