Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Townsend vs Pelham vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Williamsburg | Townsend | Pelham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
9,100Highest |
1,335Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest 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+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% 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 | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% 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 | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Townsend and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | Williamsburg | North Middlesex | Pelham | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.