Compare towns
Hatfield vs Madison vs Berlin
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).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Madison | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,680Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Madison and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Madison School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.