Compare towns
Hatfield vs Great Barrington 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 most affordable homes ($441k median).
Great Barrington has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Great Barrington | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
7,202Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Great Barrington 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% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Great Barrington 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 |
$5,935 about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Berkshire Hills | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.2Highest |
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| 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.