Compare towns
Hatfield vs Upton vs Northampton 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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hatfield | Upton | Northampton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
8,189 |
30,962Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Hatfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Upton and Hadley 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Blackstone Valley | Northampton High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.2 |
14.7Highest |
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.