Compare towns
Hadley vs Thompson vs Upton vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Upton | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
9,337 |
8,189 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton 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 54% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
7.9 |
11.2 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.