Compare towns
Hadley vs Ogunquit vs Northampton vs Essex
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
Essex has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Ogunquit | Northampton | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
1,379Lowest |
30,962Highest |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit 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 |
— | $1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | — | #159 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.