Compare towns
Hatfield vs Northampton vs Washington
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
30,962Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington 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±$17k 24% below MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
| Hatfield and Northampton 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±$75Highest 18% below MA |
— |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
25 minHighest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Northampton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
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.