Compare towns
Deerfield vs Rochester vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Rochester has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Deerfield | Rochester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
5,837Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
46.5±6Lowest 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Rochester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$6,530 9% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.1Lowest |
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| 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.