Compare towns
Hadley vs Upton vs South Hadley
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | Upton | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
8,189 |
17,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and South 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
| 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 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| 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±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,325±$54 25% below MA |
| Hadley and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
8.6 |
| 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.