Compare towns

Clinton vs Hardwick vs Berlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).

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.

MeasureClintonHardwickBerlin
People
Population
15,563Highest
2,684Lowest
3,378
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.6±2.7Lowest
4% below MA
45.3±9.8
13% above MA
49.7±2.8Highest
24% above MA
Berlin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hardwick and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Berlin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Clinton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,781±$10k
14% below MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
$121,336±$12kHighest
17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$387,300±$19k
31% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% below MA
$616,600±$55kHighest
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$76
20% below MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,654
22% below MA
$4,400Lowest
27% below MA
$7,116Highest
19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±6.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±19.7
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%
MA: 62.5%
77.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
34 minHighest
17% above MA
Work from home
14.2%±4.2
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #246 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA #61 of 282 in MA
School district Clinton Quabbin Berlin-Boylston
High school in town Clinton Senior High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
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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.