Compare towns

Shelburne vs Hadley vs Deerfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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.

MeasureShelburneHadleyDeerfield
People
Population
1,567Lowest
5,306Highest
5,158
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
57±7.3Highest
43% above MA
45.8±7.1Lowest
15% above MA
51.8±3.6
30% above MA
Shelburne and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.5%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.2%±3.7
MA: 19.4%
Hadley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.7%
MA: 47.3%
61.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.9%±3.4
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,000±$4kLowest
20% below MA
$119,259±$12kHighest
15% above MA
$106,136±$14k
about the MA average
Hadley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$405,400±$32kLowest
28% below MA
$511,000±$43kHighest
9% below MA
$414,900±$37k
26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,080±$105Lowest
39% below MA
$1,402±$132Highest
20% below MA
$1,334±$318
24% below MA
Hadley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,595Lowest
23% below MA
$5,271
12% below MA
$5,824Highest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.1%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9
MA: 51.8%
26.1%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Shelburne and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
78.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
about the MA average
20 min
33% below MA
18 minLowest
40% below MA
Work from home
17.7%±6
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hadley and Shelburne 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 — #116 of 282 in MA #156 of 282 in MA
School district Mohawk Trail Hadley Deerfield · Frontier
High school in town None in town Hopkins Academy Frontier Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.3Lowest
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.