What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).

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	Buckland
People
Population	3,325Highest	2,036Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA	49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA
	Buckland 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%	17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Buckland 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA	$82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA
	Hatfield and Buckland 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	$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA
	Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 18% below MA	$4,761Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	13%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6% MA: 62.5%	74.6% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Buckland 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	—
School district	Hatfield	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	Smith Academy	Mohawk Trail Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.