Compare towns
Berlin vs Devens vs Lancaster
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%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Devens | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Berlin and Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Berlin and Devens 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 |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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 |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.