Compare towns
Deerfield vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Sterling | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
8,183Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Sterling and Berlin 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 |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Sterling 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Sterling 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Wachusett | 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 Our Story | 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.