Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Middlesex 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 expensive homes ($617k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Hatfield | Middlesex | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,325 |
1,943Lowest |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hatfield 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. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% 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. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.