Compare towns
Berlin vs Millis 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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 | Millis | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,888Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Millis 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% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Berlin and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Millis | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| 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.