What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Hopedale has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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	Deerfield	Hopedale
People
Population	5,158Lowest	6,027Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	44.4±5.2Lowest 11% above MA
	Deerfield and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA
	Hopedale and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
	Hopedale and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield and Hopedale 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Hopedale
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.2Lowest
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.