Compare towns
Hatfield vs Putnam vs Thompson 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
50±2.4 29% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamsburg 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±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$104,792±$21kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$403,100±$37k 21% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,420±$228Highest about the U.S. average |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,761Highest 85% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamsburg 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.5Highest |
7.9 |
— |
| 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.