Compare towns
Berlin vs Bourne 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%).
Bourne has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Bourne | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
20,323Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA |
| Bourne and Berlin 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% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northfield and Bourne 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% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Bourne 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% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne 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 |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.