Compare towns
Berlin vs Worcester vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Worcester | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
207,055Highest |
41,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
37.5±1.3 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$513,100±$28k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,871±$123 6% above MA |
| Berlin and Marlborough 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,747 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
9.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
56% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.