Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Merrimac
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Merrimac has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,325Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Merrimac and Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 10% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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 |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.