Compare towns
Hatfield vs Mendon vs Williamsburg 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
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 | Mendon | Williamsburg | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
6,325Highest |
2,694Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Williamsburg 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Williamsburg 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 14% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Mendon and Berlin 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 |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Williamsburg 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | 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 | 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.