Compare towns
Berlin vs Acton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
24,155Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Acton-Boxborough | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.