What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).

Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Northfield	Hatfield
People
Population	2,872Lowest	3,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA
	Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA
	Hatfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$4,930Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Lowest 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Hatfield
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	6.1Lowest
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.