Compare towns
Hadley vs Salisbury 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 highest household income ($119k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
5,656Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Salisbury 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 15% above MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Hadley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | 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.