Compare towns
Hatfield vs Stow vs Hopedale
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% 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.
| Measure | Hatfield | Stow | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
7,165Highest |
6,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.4±5.2 11% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hopedale 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hopedale and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Hopedale 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hopedale 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±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$115,722±$19k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$466,100±$28k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average |
| Hopedale and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,868 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±30.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Nashoba | Hopedale |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Hopedale Jr Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 10.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.