Compare towns
Berlin vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Northbridge | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
16,458Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Berlin and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Northbridge | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.