Compare towns
Hadley vs Upton vs Wareham vs Essex
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 the most homeowners (86.7%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Wareham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
8,189 |
23,302Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
45±3.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Wareham and Upton 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Wareham 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex and Upton 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±$41k about the MA average |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Essex 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
8.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wareham | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
8.6 |
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| 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.