Compare towns
Hatfield vs Hampton vs Berlin vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Berlin | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
16,426 |
3,378 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Berlin-Boylston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.1 |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.