Compare towns

Berlin vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).

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.

MeasureBerlinGorhamMarlborough
People
Population
3,378Lowest
18,300
41,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
37.5±1.3Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Marlborough 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%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$91,968±$9kLowest
14% above U.S.
Berlin and Gorham 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.
$460,900±$26kLowest
39% above U.S.
$513,100±$28k
54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Lowest
19% 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
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
$5,747
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Marlborough and Berlin 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berlin and Gorham 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 #24 of 133 in ME #215 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Gorham Public Schools Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.