Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ware vs Williamsburg 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Williamsburg has the highest household income ($105k).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Ware | Williamsburg | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
6,369 |
2,694Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Williamsburg 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Northampton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Northampton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Williamsburg | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 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.