What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

North Brookfield has the most kids (16.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hatfield	North Brookfield
People
Population	3,325Lowest	4,760Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA
	Hatfield and North Brookfield 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%	16.9%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and North Brookfield 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 MA: 47.3%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
	Hatfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 18% below MA	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	North Brookfield
High school in town	Smith Academy	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.