Compare towns
Hatfield vs Charlton vs Hadley
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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Charlton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
13,435Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Charlton 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±$8k 13% above MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Charlton 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 |
$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.7Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.