Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ayer vs Berlin vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Hatfield | Ayer | Berlin | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
8,645Highest |
3,378 |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Ayer 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.