Compare towns
Berlin vs Everett vs Northfield vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Everett | Northfield | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
50,045Highest |
2,872Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Merrimac 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
41% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 17% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac and Berlin 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Everett 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 |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Berlin and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Everett | Pioneer Valley | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.