Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Lancaster | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
8,606Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.