Compare towns
Hatfield vs Seabrook Beach vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Seabrook Beach has the most expensive homes ($921k median).
Berlin has the highest household income ($121k).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,001Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hatfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43k 16% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,725±$575 22% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Seabrook Beach 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | — | #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 Our Story | None yet | 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.
