Compare towns
Berkley vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Townsend | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
9,100 |
18,298Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Somerset and Berkley 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Berkley and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,977Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley and Somerset 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | North Middlesex | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.