Compare towns
Berlin vs Deerfield vs Needham
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 renters (22.7% rent).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,158 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Needham 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 |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.