What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Dudley	Hatfield
People
Population	11,929Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA
	Hatfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA
	Hatfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$4,930Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 3 yrs newer than MA	1967 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Hatfield
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	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.