Compare towns
Hatfield vs Berlin vs Boylston
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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Boylston has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
3,378 |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boylston 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.