Compare towns
Monument Beach vs Hatfield vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monument Beach has the most expensive homes ($560k median).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Monument Beach | Hatfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,277 |
3,325Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.7 17% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Monument Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±7.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Monument Beach and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monument Beach and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monument Beach and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,167±$14kLowest 26% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $559,900±$66kHighest about the MA average |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,704±$162Highest 3% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,440Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,930Highest 18% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±98.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Monument Beach and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 5.4%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Hatfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hatfield | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.