Compare towns
Berlin vs Shelburne vs Upton 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 most people working from home (29.1%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Shelburne | Upton | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,567Lowest |
8,189 |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Shelburne 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% MA: 47.3% |
51.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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 |
$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
| 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 |
$405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Berlin and Upton 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 |
$1,080±$105 39% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 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% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
67.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest 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 |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Mohawk Trail | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
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.