What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Hatfield	Sturbridge
People
Population	3,325Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Hatfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Hatfield and Sturbridge 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	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Smith Academy	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	7.7Highest
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.