What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).

Stafford has the most kids (21.5% 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	Stafford
People
Population	3,325Lowest	11,511Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S.	46.7±4.8Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Hatfield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hatfield and Stafford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hatfield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S.	$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Stafford 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.	$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Hatfield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S.	$5,131Highest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hatfield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hatfield and Stafford 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	#96 of 149 in CT
School district	Hatfield	Stafford School District
High school in town	Smith Academy	Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	9.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.