Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Suffield vs Northborough
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 most renters (45.3% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Suffield | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,563 |
15,702 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northborough 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% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Northborough 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 50% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,402±$76Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$4,654Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,983Highest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Northborough 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | Suffield School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | Suffield High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.