Compare towns
Hatfield vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Dalton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
6,256Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hadley 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hadley 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$25k 14% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley 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 22% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Dalton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
22 minHighest 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Central Berkshire | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Wahconah Regional High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.9Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.