Compare towns
Berlin vs Chaplin vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,070Lowest |
3,629Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Chaplin 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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 85% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Chaplin 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.