Compare towns
Berkley vs Fall River vs Ashburnham
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 most expensive homes ($511k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Berkley | Fall River | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829 |
94,082Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashburnham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham 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±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Berkley and Ashburnham 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 |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Fall River 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 |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.