Compare towns
Boylston vs Dalton vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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.
| Measure | Boylston | Dalton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948 |
6,256Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
| Dalton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 8% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Central Berkshire | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.9 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.