Compare towns

Hadley vs Westhampton vs Northampton

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).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureHadleyWesthamptonNorthampton
People
Population
5,306
1,552Lowest
30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
41.3±2.2Lowest
3% above MA
Westhampton 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%
18%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
16%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Westhampton 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
MA: 17.9%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton 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%
47%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
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±$12kHighest
15% above MA
$100,000±$7k
4% below MA
$80,288±$6kLowest
23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$511,000±$43kHighest
9% below MA
$413,200±$24kLowest
26% below MA
$429,700±$17k
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$1,304±$229Lowest
26% below MA
$1,439±$75Highest
18% below MA
Northampton and 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
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$5,680
5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Northampton and Hadley 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%
6.5%
MA: 10%
13.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
21 min
26% below MA
Work from home
20.1%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Northampton 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 — #159 of 282 in MA
School district Hadley Hampshire · Westhampton Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town Hopkins Academy Hampshire Regional High Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.3Lowest
10.0
14.7Highest
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.