Compare towns
Hatfield vs Orange vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Orange | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
7,573Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Hatfield and Pelham 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Pelham 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Hatfield 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
| Pelham 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±$26k 22% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
| Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Hatfield and Pelham 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pelham 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Pelham |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.0Highest |
— |
| 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.