Compare towns
Berlin vs Glocester vs Hatfield vs Boylston
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%).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Glocester | Hatfield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
10,221Highest |
3,325Lowest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Berlin 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Boylston 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% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Berlin 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 50% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Berlin 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. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Berlin 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #198 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Smith Academy | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.