Compare towns
Berlin vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks 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 most people working from home (29.1%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.