Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Upton vs Hatfield
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%).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hudson | Upton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
20,077Highest |
8,189 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 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% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Berlin and Upton 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Hudson 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Blackstone Valley | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
11.2Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.