What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Hatfield	Barre
People
Population	3,325Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA
	Hatfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre 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±$25kLowest 14% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
	Barre 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±$26kHighest 22% below MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
	Hatfield and Barre 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	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Hatfield and Barre 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	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Quabbin
High school in town	Smith Academy	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	12.9Highest
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.