Compare towns
Berlin vs Lynn vs Springfield 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Lynn | Springfield | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
101,709 |
154,749Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn 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% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Lynn | Springfield | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0Highest |
12.2 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.