Compare towns
Hatfield vs Epping vs Whately vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Whately has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k 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 | Hatfield | Epping | Whately | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
7,430Highest |
1,499Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15k 44% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Whately 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Epping School District | Whately | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Epping High School | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— | 7.3 |
| 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.