Compare towns
Berlin vs Marlborough vs Ogunquit vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Marlborough | Ogunquit | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
41,647Highest |
1,379Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Marlborough 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% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 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% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough 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. |
$91,968±$9kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$513,100±$28kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,871±$123Lowest 32% above U.S. |
— | $1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Northborough 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. |
$5,747 84% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,983Highest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 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 | #215 of 282 in MA | — | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | — | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | None in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | — | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.