Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Worcester vs Berlin vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Worcester | Berlin | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
831Lowest |
3,378Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 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+ | 60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Williamsburg 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 30% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| 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 21% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| 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 85% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.