Compare towns
Hatfield vs Lynn vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Lynn | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
101,709Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn 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±$25k 14% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately 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 22% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Lynn | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Lynn English High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.