Compare towns
Hadley vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Boylston
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Windsor Locks 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.5 |
8.9 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.