Compare towns
Hadley vs Windsor Locks vs Essex
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
12,579Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Windsor Locks School District | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.