What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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	Hanover
People
Population	3,325Lowest	14,845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Hatfield and Hanover 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%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Hanover 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	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Hatfield 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%	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Smith Academy	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.