Compare towns
Hatfield vs Webster vs Berlin vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Webster | Berlin | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
12,228Highest |
3,378 |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| 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.