What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most expensive homes ($250k median).

Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middletown	Hadley
People
Population	3,292Highest	2,074Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.6±3.7Highest 40% above NY	54.1±3Lowest 36% above NY
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	14.4%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.8%±6.2Highest NY: 17.9%	26.1%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	25%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Hadley and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,021±$7kHighest 9% below NY	$73,750±$32kLowest 14% below NY
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$250,000±$48kHighest 41% below NY	$194,200±$30kLowest 54% below NY
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$887±$139Lowest 45% below NY	$900±$293Highest 44% below NY
	Hadley and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,683Highest 44% below NY	$2,375Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±16.8Highest NY: 52.1%	44.3%±17Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Middletown and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest NY: 14%	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	31 minHighest 4% below NY
Work from home	24.5%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9%	24.2%±23.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Middletown and Hadley 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	#344 of 484 in NY	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.