Compare towns
Berlin vs Spencer vs Marlborough
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%).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Spencer | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
12,008 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Spencer 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% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$513,100±$28k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,871±$123 6% above MA |
| Berlin and Marlborough 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 |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,747 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
9.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Spencer-E Brookfield | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
10.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.