Compare towns
Hatfield vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Northampton
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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Northampton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
7.7 |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.