Compare towns
Berlin vs Acton vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Acton | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
24,155Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Berlin 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Acton-Boxborough | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.