Compare towns
Berlin vs Lee 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 highest household income ($121k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northfield has the most kids (14.8% under 18).
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 | Lee | Ogunquit | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
5,719Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% 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. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Lee 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% |
44.1% 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% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ogunquit 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,473 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% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest 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. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Lee | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.