Compare towns
Pelham vs North Reading vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Pelham | North Reading | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
15,765Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and North Reading 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | North Reading | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
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.