Compare towns
Great Barrington 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
Great Barrington has the most expensive homes ($494k median).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
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 | Great Barrington | Hatfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202 |
3,325Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Great Barrington and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Great Barrington and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935Highest about the MA average |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 25% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Hatfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | Smith Academy | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
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.