Compare towns
Berlin vs Rowley vs Upton 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%).
Rowley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Rowley | Upton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,708Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% 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% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Rowley 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.