Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Deerfield
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%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Reading | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
25,612Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$12k 17% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Reading | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.