What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	3,325Lowest	9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Hatfield and Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
	Douglas and Hatfield 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	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Douglas
High school in town	Smith Academy	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	7.2Highest
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.