What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

Townsend has the most kids (21% 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	Townsend
People
Population	3,325Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Hatfield and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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 22% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9% MA: 10%	8.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	North Middlesex
High school in town	Smith Academy	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.