What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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 Reading
People
Population	3,325Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Hatfield and North Reading 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%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hatfield 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	North Reading
High school in town	Smith Academy	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	10.1Highest
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.