Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ripton vs Hadley vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
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 | Ripton | Hadley | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
508Lowest |
5,306Highest |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.5±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Buckland and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buckland 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Buckland 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Hadley 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. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$82,877±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hadley and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$321,400±$25kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,402±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,111±$213Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hadley 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,271Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,761Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckland and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hadley | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 7.3 |
9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.