Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Thompson
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 people working from home (29.1%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Hatfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,325Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hatfield and Berlin 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Thompson 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% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
7.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.