Compare towns
Hatfield vs Burke 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).
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Burke | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,317Lowest |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8Lowest 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% |
23%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Boylston 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% |
21.7%±2.2Lowest 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Burke 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. |
$87,143±$17kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$340,600±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,177 66% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke 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% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke 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 |
| School district | Hatfield | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.