Compare towns
Hatfield vs Meredith vs Hopedale
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Hatfield | Meredith | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±5.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$115,722±$19kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$466,100±$28k 40% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Hopedale 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,788±$223Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hopedale |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Inter-Lakes High School | Hopedale Jr Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.2 |
| 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.