Compare towns

Buckland vs Rowley 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).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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.

MeasureBucklandRowleyHatfield
People
Population
2,036Lowest
6,251Highest
3,325
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.5±5.4
24% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
46.8±5Lowest
17% above MA
Rowley and Buckland 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%
19.3%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Rowley 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%
21.6%±4.1Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hatfield and Rowley 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
$132,734±$32kHighest
28% above MA
$89,005±$25k
14% below MA
Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$321,400±$25kLowest
43% below MA
$667,300±$52kHighest
19% above MA
$440,800±$26k
22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,111±$213Lowest
37% below MA
$1,603±$520Highest
9% below MA
$1,267±$216
28% below MA
Rowley 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$4,930
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58%±20.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Buckland and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
5% above MA
28 min
3% below MA
20 minLowest
30% below MA
Work from home
14.1%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Hatfield and Buckland 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 — #214 of 282 in MA #198 of 282 in MA
School district Mohawk Trail Triton Hatfield
High school in town Mohawk Trail Regional School None in town Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Highest
—
6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.