Compare towns
Hadley vs Ware vs Hatfield
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).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Ware | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
6,369Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hatfield 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| 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.