Compare towns

Berlin vs Needham vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureBerlinNeedhamOgunquit
People
Population
3,378
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8
28% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55kLowest
85% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Lowest
70% above U.S.
—
Berlin and Needham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
29.1%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Berlin-Boylston Needham —
High school in town None in town Needham High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.