Compare towns
Hatfield vs Hardwick vs Putnam vs Hadley
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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4% 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. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,271Highest 69% 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% |
38.6%±18.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest 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% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Quabbin | Putnam School District | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Putnam High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.