Compare towns
Middlefield vs Rowley vs Hawley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Hawley has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Middlefield | Rowley | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352 |
6,251Highest |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA |
56.8±7.2 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rowley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$309,600±$38kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Triton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.