Compare towns
Buckland vs Douglas vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Buckland | Douglas | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036Lowest |
9,207Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Douglas and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Douglas and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Douglas | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Douglas High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
7.2 |
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.