Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Hatfield vs Clinton
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Reading | Hatfield | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
25,612Highest |
3,325Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Hatfield 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Berlin 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Hatfield | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Smith Academy | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.