Compare towns
Hatfield vs Everett vs Northampton vs Buckland
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
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 | Everett | Northampton | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
50,045Highest |
30,962 |
2,036Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
| Buckland 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
| Hatfield and Everett 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,761Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
13% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Everett | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Everett High | Northampton High | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.1 |
14.7Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.