Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Marlborough
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).
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 | Dover | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,930 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
| Berlin and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Marlborough 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Berlin 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.1Highest |
| 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.