Compare towns
Berlin vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,183Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Berlin 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% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Sterling 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.