Compare towns
Hatfield vs Upton vs Northampton vs Whately
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Upton | Northampton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
8,189 |
30,962Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Whately 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Upton and Whately 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$977±$125 45% 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Blackstone Valley | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.2 |
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.