Compare towns
Hatfield vs Thompson vs Hadley 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
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hadley has the most kids (16.2% 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 | Thompson | Hadley | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,337Highest |
5,306 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hadley 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley 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 10% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hadley 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hadley 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hadley 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Thompson School District | Hadley | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hopkins Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
7.9Highest |
7.3 |
— |
| 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.