Compare towns
Boylston vs Hatfield vs Webster
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hatfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948 |
3,325Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Boylston and Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston 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% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Boylston 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Smith Academy | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
6.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.