What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).

Hawley has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

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	Middlefield	Hawley
People
Population	352Highest	277Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-26.1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA	56.8±7.2Lowest 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	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hawley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	37.2%±3.2Highest 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+	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	39.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average	$87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA
	Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA	$309,600±$38kLowest 45% below MA
	Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,625±$1k 49% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,926Highest 18% below MA	$4,097Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	94%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hawley and Middlefield 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

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.