Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Hardwick
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%).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Clinton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
15,563Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Berlin and Hardwick 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% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Clinton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Hardwick 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 |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.