The Town FilesHadley, Massachusetts
Town in Hampshire County · population 5,325 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $511,000
- Household income
- $119,259
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 45.8
Hadley is a town of 5,325 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $511,000, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
How Hadley ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hadley is worth $511,000, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $119,259, which is more affordable than 61% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,402 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hadley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $511,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,402 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $119,259 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Hadley
| People | Hadley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Hadley
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hadley since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 13, 1971 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 3, 1970.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Hadley itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Hadley
3 public schools with 1,055 students, about 8.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 552 | 8.5 |
| Hadley Elementary | PK-6 | 292 | 12.7 |
| Hopkins Academy | 7-12 | 211 | 6.8 |
Towns near Hadley
- Amherst Town, MA3.2 mi · 39,263 people · home $484,900
- Hatfield, MA3.3 mi · 3,352 people · home $440,800
- Northampton, MA5.8 mi · 29,571 people · home $429,700
- South Hadley, MA6.9 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
- Sunderland, MA7.7 mi · 3,663 people · home $458,100
- Granby, MA8.5 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Williamsburg, MA8.7 mi · 2,504 people · home $403,100
- Belchertown, MA10.1 mi · 15,350 people · home $371,300
Hadley questions
Is Hadley, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hadley scores better for retirees than 53% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 64%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Hadley?
The median owner-occupied home in Hadley is valued at $511,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,259, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,402 a month.
What is the weather like in Hadley?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Hadley get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hadley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 13, 1971. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)