What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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	Hopedale
People
Population	3,325Lowest	6,027Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	44.4±5.2Lowest 11% above MA
	Hatfield and Hopedale 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%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Hopedale 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%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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±$25kLowest 14% below MA	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA
	Hopedale 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±$26kLowest 22% below MA	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA
	Hopedale and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Hopedale
High school in town	Smith Academy	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	10.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.