What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Belchertown
People
Population	3,325Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Hatfield and Belchertown 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%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown 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%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Belchertown 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%	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown 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	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA
	Belchertown 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	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA
	Belchertown 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	$5,810Highest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Hatfield 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%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Belchertown 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	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Belchertown
High school in town	Smith Academy	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	11.9Highest
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.