Compare towns
Hatfield vs Townsend 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 population (median age 46.8).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Townsend | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,100Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Hatfield and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Townsend and Hadley 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | North Middlesex | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | North Middlesex Regional | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.