What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hatfield	Webster
People
Population	3,325Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Hatfield and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster 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%	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Webster 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%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Webster 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±$25kHighest 14% below MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
	Hatfield and Webster 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	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
	Hatfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 18% below MA	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Webster and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 30% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Hatfield	Webster
High school in town	Smith Academy	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.1Lowest	11.6Highest
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.