Compare towns
Hatfield vs Erving vs Berlin vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Erving | Berlin | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,703Lowest |
3,378 |
5,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% 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% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Hadley 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% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hadley 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Hadley 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Hadley 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Erving 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Erving | Berlin-Boylston | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 7.3Highest |
| 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.