Compare towns
Berlin vs Townsend vs Williamsburg
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 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 | Townsend | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
9,100Highest |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Williamsburg 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | North Middlesex | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.