Compare towns
Deerfield vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Reading | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Highest |
699Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Berlin 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Reading 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.