Compare towns
Berlin vs Boylston vs Dedham 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Berlin | Boylston | Dedham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
4,948 |
25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Boylston 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% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin 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 |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | Dedham High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.4 |
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.