Compare towns
Hatfield vs Jackson vs Boylston
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 affordable homes ($441k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Boylston has the most kids (18% 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.
| Measure | Hatfield | Jackson | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
897Lowest |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boylston and Hatfield 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Boylston 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 10% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Jackson 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Jackson School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.