Compare towns
Berlin vs Unity vs Deerfield vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Boylston has the most kids (18% 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 | Unity | Deerfield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,375Lowest |
5,158Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Unity and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boylston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 85% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Unity School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.