Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Clinton | Needham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
15,563 |
32,459Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Needham 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 |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Berlin 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.