Compare towns
Hatfield vs Needham vs Winchester 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 most affordable homes ($441k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Needham | Winchester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Winchester and Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Winchester and Needham 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 |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Needham | Winchester | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Needham High | Winchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.9 |
14.8Highest |
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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.