Compare towns
Hatfield vs Madison vs Buckland
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 people working from home (16%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
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 | Madison | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Highest |
2,680 |
2,036Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.5±5.4 27% above U.S. |
| Madison and Buckland 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Buckland 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% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buckland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Buckland 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 10% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$82,877±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Madison 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. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$321,400±$25kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Madison 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. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,111±$213Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Madison and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$4,761 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Buckland 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield and Buckland 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Madison School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.