Compare towns
Berlin vs Deerfield vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% 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 | Deerfield | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,158 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Berlin 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% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Gardner 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 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.