Compare towns
Hadley vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,048Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45±3.4 13% above MA |
| Hadley and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Essex 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Ware | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.