Compare towns
Hadley vs Springfield vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($119k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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 | Worcester | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Hadley and Northampton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Northampton 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Worcester and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.