What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	3,325Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Hatfield and Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
	Hatfield and Gardner 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	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
	Hatfield and Gardner 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	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Hatfield 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%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Gardner
High school in town	Smith Academy	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	13.5Highest
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.