Compare towns
Berlin vs Boylston vs Sterling
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%).
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Boylston | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
4,948 |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling 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% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Boylston 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.