Compare towns
Madison vs Berlin vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Madison | Berlin | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
3,378Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Madison and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,417±$116Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,774 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Berlin-Boylston | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.