Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ashfield vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the highest household income ($89k).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Hatfield | Ashfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,893Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Ashfield 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±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton 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 |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Ashfield 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 | — | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Mohawk Trail | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.