Compare towns
Deerfield vs Epping vs Montague vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
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 | Deerfield | Epping | Montague | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
7,430 |
8,482Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.3±3.1Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Montague and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$70,510±$12kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$282,100±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,207±$115Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.6%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Epping 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #265 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Epping School District | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Epping High School | Franklin County Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.