Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ware vs Whately 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Ware | Whately | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
10,048Highest |
1,499Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Whately 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Whately 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 MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 min 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Whately 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Ware | Whately | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.