Compare towns
Berlin vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
9,100Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Townsend and Berlin 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | North Middlesex | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.