Compare towns
Shelburne vs Hadley vs Nahant
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 most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Shelburne | Hadley | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567Lowest |
5,306Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley and Shelburne 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%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Nahant 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Hadley and Nahant 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±$43k 9% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
| Nahant and Hadley 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 |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Shelburne 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Nahant 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 | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Hadley | Nahant |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
— |
| 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.