Compare towns
Hampden vs Berlin vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Hubbardston has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Hampden | Berlin | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
2,880Lowest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
46.8±9.1Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hubbardston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$123,500±$24kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,600±$18kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$953±$206Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±67.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hubbardston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hubbardston 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.