What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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	Springfield
People
Population	3,325Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield 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	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
	Hatfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 18% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 30% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#198 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Springfield
High school in town	Smith Academy	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	12.2Highest
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.