Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay
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%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Brookfield | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,460Highest |
2,909Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Berlin 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% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield 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 |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.