Compare towns
Hatfield vs Brooklyn vs Windsor Locks vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Brooklyn | Windsor Locks | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
8,517 |
12,579Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Windsor Locks 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Brooklyn School District | Windsor Locks School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 8.9 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.