Compare towns
Hadley vs Plainfield vs Whately
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 most expensive homes ($511k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
15,141Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Whately 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Whately 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately and Hadley 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$116,563±$15k 44% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hadley 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hadley | Plainfield School District | Whately |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.