Compare towns
Dalton vs Hatfield vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hatfield has the highest household income ($89k).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Dalton | Hatfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
3,325Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hatfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Smith Academy | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
6.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.