Compare towns

Berlin vs Dover vs Ogunquit vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

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.

MeasureBerlinDoverOgunquitNorthfield
People
Population
3,378
5,930Highest
1,379Lowest
2,872
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8
28% above U.S.
44.9±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Northfield 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
50% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$103,375±$10kLowest
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55k
85% above U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$375,800±$31kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933
71% above U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
—
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% below U.S.
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
128% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,594
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
29% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
29.1%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Dover 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 — #231 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Dover · Dover-Sherborn — Pioneer Valley
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High — Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
—
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.