What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlton	Hatfield
People
Population	13,435Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 8% above MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Charlton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
	Charlton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$4,930Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Hatfield
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.