Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Putnam
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 people working from home (29.1%).
Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Clinton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,563Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Clinton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.