Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Ware
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 homeowners (85.1%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Northfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,872Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.