Compare towns
Hatfield vs Putney vs Berlin vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Williamsburg has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Putney | Berlin | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
2,622Lowest |
3,378Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamsburg and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$403,100±$37k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,761 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.