Compare towns
Hatfield vs Northampton vs Townsend
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).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Northampton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
30,962Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hatfield and Northampton 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Northampton 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% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Hatfield 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 |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Northampton 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 |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Townsend 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Northampton High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.