Compare towns
Hatfield vs Natick vs Berlin vs Hadley
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).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Natick | Berlin | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
36,873Highest |
3,378 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Hadley 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hadley 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Natick 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±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Natick 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Natick 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Natick | Berlin-Boylston | Hadley |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Natick High | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 7.3 |
| 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.