Compare towns
Hatfield vs Sturbridge vs Hadley
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,960Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
45.8±7.1Lowest 15% 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% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Sturbridge 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 | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
7.7Highest |
7.3 |
| 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.