Compare towns
Hadley vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Northampton
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 highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Northampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northampton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
8.9 |
10.3 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.