Compare towns
Hadley vs Reading vs Northampton
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Reading | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
25,612 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Hadley and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 15% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Northampton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Reading | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Reading Memorial High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
12.1 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.