Compare towns
Hatfield vs Needham vs Northampton
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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Hatfield and Needham 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% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Northampton 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% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Needham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Needham High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.9 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.