Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Windsor 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
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Northfield | Windsor | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,872Lowest |
3,554Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Northfield 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% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Windsor 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% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Northfield 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. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northfield 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. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.