Compare towns
Hadley vs Springfield vs Boylston
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Springfield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
154,749Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| 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 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 20% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Springfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Springfield Central High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.