Compare towns
Hatfield vs Hardwick vs Putnam vs Williamsburg
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Hardwick | Putnam | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4 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% |
22.7%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6%Highest 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% |
6.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$104,792±$21kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg 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±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$403,100±$37k 21% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,420±$228Highest about the U.S. average |
| Williamsburg 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. |
$5,761Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Hardwick 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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. |
25 min 4% 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% |
26.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Quabbin | Putnam School District | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.