Compare towns
Berlin vs Rye vs Boylston
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 renters (22.7% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Rye | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,611Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rye and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Berlin 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 50% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| 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 128% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Rye School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.