What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Belchertown	Hatfield
People
Population	15,393Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Belchertown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
	Belchertown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 3% below MA	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Belchertown 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	#168 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Hatfield
High school in town	Belchertown High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.