What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% 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.

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

Measure	Berlin	Bellingham
People
Population	3,378Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Berlin and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Bellingham and Berlin 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	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA	$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA
	Berlin and Bellingham 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	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 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%	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#61 of 282 in MA	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Bellingham
High school in town	None in town	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.4
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.