Compare towns
Berlin vs Deerfield vs Hatfield vs Salisbury
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%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hatfield has the youngest population (median age 46.8).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Deerfield | Hatfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
5,158 |
3,325Lowest |
5,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury 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% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% 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 |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 | #240 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 Our Story | 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.