Compare towns
Hatfield vs North Reading vs Reading 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).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | North Reading | Reading | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 14% below MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Berlin 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | North Reading | Reading | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.1 |
12.1Highest |
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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.