Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit 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 renters (22.7% rent).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
8,606Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| 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±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 History | None yet | 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.