Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Wakefield vs Clinton
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).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k median).
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 | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
25,612 |
27,793Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below 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% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Wakefield 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% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest 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 |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Reading | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.