Compare towns
Berlin vs Ossipee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Northfield has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Ossipee | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
4,521Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Berlin 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% 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. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Berlin 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| 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.