Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster vs Clinton
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 expensive homes ($617k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,606 |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Clinton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.