Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Wakefield vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 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 | Wakefield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
25,612 |
27,793Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Reading and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Reading | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.