What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).

Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).

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	Stoddard
People
Population	3,378Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±2.8Lowest 28% above U.S.	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.
	Stoddard 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%	17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoddard 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 U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berlin and Stoddard 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 U.S.: 35.7%	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Berlin and Stoddard 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 50% above U.S.	$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S.	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S.	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Berlin and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Highest 128% above U.S.	$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#61 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Stoddard School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.