Compare towns
Hatfield vs Needham vs Boylston
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Needham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Needham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Needham High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.