Compare towns
Hatfield vs Rowley 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).
Rowley has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Rowley | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,708Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
46.3±16.7Lowest 16% 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% |
18.3%±6.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Lowest 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% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.