Compare towns
Hatfield vs Boylston 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 the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Boylston | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
4,948 |
5,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hatfield 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% |
18%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Boylston and Hadley 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boylston 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Tahanto Regional High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
7.3 |
| 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.