Compare towns
Hawley vs Mount Washington vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hawley has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Mount Washington has the most expensive homes ($714k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Hawley | Mount Washington | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 277 |
193Lowest |
352Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -26.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±7.2 42% above MA |
52.1±10.7Lowest 30% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.1%±14.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hawley and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.5%±13Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% MA: 47.3% |
46.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±7.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA |
$142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Mount Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,600±$38kLowest 45% below MA |
$714,300±$141kHighest 27% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $2,625±$1k 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,097 32% below MA |
$3,316Lowest 45% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±12.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.