Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Ogunquit | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
8,606Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.