Compare towns
Berlin vs South Hadley 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%).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | South Hadley | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
17,754Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hatfield and Berlin 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% |
23.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and South Hadley 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | South Hadley | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | South Hadley High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Highest |
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.