Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Warner
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).
Warner has the most kids (17.3% 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 | Warner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
2,872Lowest |
2,959 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Warner 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 85% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| 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 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.