Compare towns
Berlin vs Ware vs Warren 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Ware | Warren | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
6,369Highest |
5,009 |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Quaboag Regional | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Quaboag Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.