Compare towns
Rowley vs Needham vs Hatfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Rowley | Needham | Hatfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,325 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Berlin 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | — | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.