Compare towns
Berlin vs Hampton Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 Falls | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
2,328Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Northfield 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hampton Falls School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.