Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ripton vs Worcester vs Northampton
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Worcester | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
508Lowest |
831 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Northampton 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±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Northampton 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. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Northampton 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northampton and Worcester 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 | — | — | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| 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.