Compare towns
Boylston vs Upton vs Williamsburg vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Boylston | Upton | Williamsburg | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
8,189Highest |
2,694Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% 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 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Upton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.