What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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	Charlton
People
Population	3,325Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Hatfield and Charlton 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%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Charlton 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%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA
	Charlton 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±$26kHighest 22% below MA	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
	Hatfield and Charlton 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	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Hatfield 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	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Charlton 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%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Smith Academy	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.