Compare towns
Hatfield vs Sutton vs Berlin vs Northampton
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Berlin | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
790Lowest |
3,378 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Northampton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Berlin 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr 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 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Berlin-Boylston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.