Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Oakham
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).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
3,325 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Berlin and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham 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%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Oakham 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±$26k 22% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Quabbin |
| 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 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.