Compare towns
Berlin vs Hampton vs Boylston vs Northfield
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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
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 | Hampton | Boylston | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,647Lowest |
4,948Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% 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. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hampton School District | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.