Compare towns
Berlin vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman 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 | Whitman | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
15,295Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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% |
15.5%±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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Berlin and Whitman 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 |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Whitman 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Berlin 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% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Whitman-Hanson | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.