Compare towns
Hatfield vs Buzzards Bay vs Berlin vs Northampton
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).
Buzzards Bay has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Berlin | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,909Lowest |
3,378 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton 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% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Berlin 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Berlin-Boylston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.