Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ayer vs Berlin vs Whately
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
8,645Highest |
3,378 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Berlin and Whately 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%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Whately 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% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ayer 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 |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Berlin and Whately 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 |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| 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% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
23 min 21% 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% |
20.4%±8.5 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 | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Berlin-Boylston | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.