Compare towns
Hatfield vs Salisbury vs Ware vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Salisbury | Ware | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
10,048Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$25k 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Hadley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Ware | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.