Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Marblehead has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,325Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Berlin and Marblehead 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% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Marblehead 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Marblehead |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.