Compare towns
Hatfield vs Putnam vs Boylston
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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Putnam | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Boylston 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Boylston 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 32% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Hatfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Putnam High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.5 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.