Compare towns
Berlin vs Bourne vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Bourne | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
20,323Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
| Bourne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
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.