Compare towns
Berlin vs Worcester vs Northfield
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 the most renters (57.2% rent).
Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
207,055Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Northfield 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% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Northfield 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.