Compare towns
Berlin vs Alstead vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,551Lowest |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
— | $1,871±$123Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,747 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
56%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | — | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.