Compare towns
Pelham vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
9,100Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Townsend and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | North Middlesex | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.