Compare towns
Auburn vs Hatfield vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Auburn | Hatfield | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
3,325Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Hatfield 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 |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% 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±$216 28% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Auburn 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford and Hatfield 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Hatfield | Oxford |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Smith Academy | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.