Compare towns
Berlin vs Milton vs Marlborough
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).
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 | Milton | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
28,587 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,871±$123 6% above MA |
| Berlin and Marlborough 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Milton | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.