Compare towns
Buckland vs Upton vs Hatfield vs Colrain
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1950).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Upton | Hatfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,036 |
8,189Highest |
3,325 |
1,627Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4 24% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Buckland 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25k 43% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761 21% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hatfield | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Blackstone Valley | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.2Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.