Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ware 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
Williamsburg has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Williamsburg | Ware | Hatfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
6,369Highest |
3,325 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Williamsburg 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | — | Hatfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None 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.