Compare towns
Hatfield vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
| Williamsburg 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 22% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
| 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 28% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Worcester and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
25 minHighest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.