Compare towns
Hatfield vs Chilmark vs Berlin
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).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Chilmark | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,578Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chilmark and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
| Chilmark and Berlin 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Chilmark 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 |
| School district | Hatfield | Up-Island Regional | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.