Compare towns
Hatfield vs Gardner 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 most expensive homes ($441k median).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Buckland has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Gardner | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
21,148Highest |
2,036Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
| Hatfield and Buckland 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 |
$321,400±$25k 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
| Hatfield and Buckland 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 |
$4,761 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Gardner 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% |
13% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and Buckland 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Gardner High | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.