What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).

Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Shrewsbury
People
Population	3,378Lowest	38,876Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shrewsbury 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	$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA
	Shrewsbury 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	$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA
	Berlin and Shrewsbury 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	$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA
	Berlin and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Highest 19% above MA	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8%	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Berlin and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 17% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	26.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Berlin and Shrewsbury 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	#30 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Shrewsbury
High school in town	None in town	Shrewsbury High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.