Compare towns
Hadley vs Worcester vs South Hadley
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 most expensive homes ($511k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
South Hadley has the most homeowners (77%).
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 | Worcester | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
207,055Highest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
| Hadley and South 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Hadley 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and South 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
| Hadley and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,500Highest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and South 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and South 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | South High Community | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
8.6 |
| 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.