Compare towns
Berlin vs Beverly 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Beverly has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Beverly | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
42,665Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Northfield 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% |
19.4%±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% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Beverly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Beverly 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 |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Beverly | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.