Compare towns
Hatfield vs Oakham vs Berlin vs Williamsburg
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).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
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 | Oakham | Berlin | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,639Lowest |
3,378Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Quabbin | Berlin-Boylston | Williamsburg |
| 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.