Compare towns

Berkley vs Douglas vs Somerset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).

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.

MeasureBerkleyDouglasSomerset
People
Population
6,829Lowest
9,207
18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.1Lowest
9% above MA
44±2.6
10% above MA
47±2.2Highest
18% above MA
Somerset and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±5.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
15.2%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
25.3%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
37.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.7
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$144,205±$49k
39% above MA
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$112,677±$6kLowest
8% above MA
Douglas and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$511,200±$45kHighest
9% below MA
$470,600±$29k
16% below MA
$418,800±$18kLowest
25% below MA
Berkley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,503±$697Highest
15% below MA
$1,271±$93Lowest
28% below MA
Douglas and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,018
about the MA average
$6,338Highest
6% above MA
$4,977Lowest
17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
58.3%±12.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Somerset and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
4.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
6% below MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
31 min
8% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
12%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas and Berkley 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 #155 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA #132 of 282 in MA
School district Berkley Douglas Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.