What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hatfield	Salem
People
Population	3,325Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem 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±$25kHighest 14% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Hatfield and Salem 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	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Salem
High school in town	Smith Academy	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	9.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.