Compare towns
Hadley vs Windham vs Worcester vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boylston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Worcester 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 48% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 54% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Boylston 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 | — | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.