Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Dedham vs Berlin vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Williamsburg | Dedham | Berlin | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,378 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 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+ | 60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Berlin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| 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.