Compare towns
Hatfield vs Newfields vs Williamsburg vs Boylston
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Newfields | Williamsburg | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,023Lowest |
2,694 |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg and Boylston 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Williamsburg 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 10% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$403,100±$37kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,761 85% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamsburg and Newfields 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 | — | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Newfields School District | Williamsburg | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.