Compare towns
Hatfield vs Lynn vs Worcester
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 most homeowners (74.6%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
101,709 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Hatfield and Lynn 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Lynn | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Lynn English High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
14.6 |
| 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.