What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Barre
People
Population	3,378Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA
	Berlin and Barre 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%	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Berlin and Barre 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 MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Berlin 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 17% above MA	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA
	Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Highest 19% above MA	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 17% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#61 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.