Compare towns
Northampton vs Lenox vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Northampton | Lenox | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962Highest |
5,079 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Lenox and Hatfield 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 |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Lenox and Hatfield 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,267±$216 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 |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Lenox 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% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 26% below MA |
23 minHighest 22% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Lenox | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Lenox Memorial High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.6 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.