Compare towns
Hatfield vs Pelham vs Ware
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%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Pelham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,335Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware 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 |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below 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 |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% 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 |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Pelham 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% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Pelham | — |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| 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.