Compare towns
Hadley vs Worcester vs Franklin
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 most affordable homes ($194k median).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Franklin has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,074 |
831Lowest |
2,359Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.2±4.1 34% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hadley and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,750±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$64,323±$6kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $194,200±$30kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$210,600±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
$803±$129Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,332 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hadley and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.