Compare towns
Northampton vs Norwood vs Ogunquit 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
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Norwood has the most kids (20% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Northampton | Norwood | Ogunquit | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
31,542Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwood and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
— | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 82% above U.S. |
$6,111Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #159 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Norwood | — | Hadley |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Norwood High | — | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.5 |
— | 7.3Lowest |
| 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.