Compare towns
Hatfield vs Exeter 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 most affordable homes ($441k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Exeter High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.