Compare towns

Hadley vs Saugus 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 people working from home (20.1%).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.

MeasureHadleySaugusHatfield
People
Population
5,306
28,773Highest
3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
44.5±2.5Lowest
11% 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%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hadley and Saugus 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%
22%±2.1Lowest
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%
31.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Saugus 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
$101,539±$3k
about the MA average
$89,005±$25kLowest
14% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$511,000±$43k
9% below MA
$603,400±$13kHighest
7% above MA
$440,800±$26kLowest
22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$2,241±$201Highest
27% above MA
$1,267±$216Lowest
28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,271
12% below MA
$6,049Highest
about the MA average
$4,930Lowest
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53%±9.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8
MA: 51.8%
Saugus 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%
6%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
71.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1967
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%
14.3%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
Hadley and Hatfield 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 #194 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.