What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).

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	Northampton	Hatfield
People
Population	30,962Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA
	Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
	Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,680Highest 5% below MA	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 26% below MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton 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	#159 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural	Hatfield
High school in town	Northampton High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	6.1Lowest
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.