Compare towns
Hatfield vs Boylston 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
4,948 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Boylston and Northampton 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% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Boylston 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 |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Boylston 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Tahanto Regional High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.1 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.