Compare towns
Hatfield vs Hardwick vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Hardwick | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$25kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield and Putnam 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hatfield | Quabbin | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.