Compare towns
Hatfield vs Plainfield vs Boylston vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Boylston | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
15,141Highest |
4,948 |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield 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 10% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$403,100±$37k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
$5,761 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Plainfield School District | Berlin-Boylston | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Plainfield High School | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.3 |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.