Compare towns
Hatfield vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Waterville | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
680Lowest |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Hatfield 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.