Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Stow
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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Northfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,872Lowest |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Northfield 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% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Stow 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.