Compare towns
Hatfield vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Dedham | Berlin | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
25,237 |
3,378 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Northampton 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Dedham 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±$26k 22% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin 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 |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Dedham High | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.4 |
— | 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.