Compare towns
Berlin vs Exeter vs Marlborough
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 people working from home (29.1%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
16,151 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$91,968±$9kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Marlborough 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,747Lowest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Marlborough 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
56%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.