Compare towns
Berlin vs Natick vs Shrewsbury
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).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Natick | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
36,873 |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Shrewsbury and Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Shrewsbury 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA |
| Shrewsbury and Natick 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 |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA |
| Berlin and Natick 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$6,923Lowest 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Natick | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Natick High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.