Compare towns
Berlin vs Freeport 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 people working from home (29.1%).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Freeport | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
8,802Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Northfield 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport 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. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | RSU 05 | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.