Compare towns
Hatfield vs Lynn vs Springfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Lynn | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
101,709 |
154,749Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% 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% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn 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% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% 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±$26k 22% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Lynn 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 |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Lynn | Springfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
12.2 |
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| 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.