Compare towns
Berlin vs Ogunquit vs Worcester vs Northfield
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 highest household income ($121k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Worcester | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,379Lowest |
207,055Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
— | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | — | South High Community | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.