Compare towns
Berlin vs Marion 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
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 | Marion | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
5,310Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA |
| Marion and Berlin 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% |
16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Marion 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% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Marion 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 10% above MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Marion and Berlin 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 |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Marion | 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 |
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.