Compare towns
Hatfield vs Plainfield vs Hadley
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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
616Lowest |
5,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
| Plainfield and Hatfield 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 14% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,271Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Hadley 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 | — | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 7.3Highest |
| 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.