Compare towns
Acton vs Berlin vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Acton | Berlin | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
3,378 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Berlin 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.