Compare towns
Hatfield vs Plainville 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 the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,943Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley 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% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville and Hadley 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% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Hadley and Plainville 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 |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Plainville | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 7.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.