Compare towns
Hatfield vs Windham vs Northampton 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).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Windham | Northampton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
16,038 |
30,962Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933 71% above U.S. |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #159 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Windham School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Windham High School | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.8 |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.