Compare towns
Rowley vs 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
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
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 | Rowley | Reading | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
25,612Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Reading and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.