Compare towns
Berlin vs Dudley vs Ware 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%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.