Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ashfield vs Hadley
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 oldest population (median age 58.6).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,893Lowest |
5,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley 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% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Hadley 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 | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Mohawk Trail | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 7.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.