Compare towns
Berlin vs Buzzards Bay vs Deerfield 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%).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hatfield has the youngest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Deerfield | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,909Lowest |
5,158Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hatfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Berlin 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Deerfield 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 |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Deerfield · Frontier | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Frontier Regional | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
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.