Compare towns
Berlin vs Brooklyn vs Webster vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Brooklyn | Webster | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
8,517 |
17,748Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Brooklyn 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 50% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Brooklyn School District | Webster | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.