Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Lancaster
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 expensive homes ($617k median).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Clinton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,563Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Clinton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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 |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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 |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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 |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%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 |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.