Compare towns
Berlin vs Douglas vs Webster vs Deerfield
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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Douglas | Webster | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
9,207 |
17,748Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Webster 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Douglas 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Douglas | Webster | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.