What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Hatfield 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.

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

Measure	Auburn	Hatfield
People
Population	16,970Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.8±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Auburn and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,467±$155Highest 17% below MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
	Auburn and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,289Highest 12% below MA	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Auburn and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% below MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Auburn 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	#106 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Auburn	Hatfield
High school in town	Auburn Senior High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.