Compare towns
Hadley vs Paxton vs Hatfield
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 most expensive homes ($511k median).
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Paxton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Highest |
5,002 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
17.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Paxton 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% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton 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 |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Paxton 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 |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Hadley and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Hadley and Paxton 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 |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Wachusett | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| 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.