Compare towns
Berlin vs Maynard vs Rowley
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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
10,712Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,663±$674Lowest 6% below MA |
| Berlin and Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Maynard | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.