Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ashfield vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Buckland has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Ashfield | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Highest |
1,893Lowest |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.5±5.4 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Hatfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,761Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Mohawk Trail | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.