Compare towns
Berlin vs Clinton vs Upton vs Northborough
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%).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northborough has the most expensive homes ($620k 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 | Upton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,563 |
8,189 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northborough 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 17% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Upton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| 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 19% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Clinton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.