What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Townsend	Hatfield
People
Population	9,100Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Townsend and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9% MA: 10%	8.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Hatfield
High school 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

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.