Compare towns
Marlborough vs Beverly vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($513k median).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
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 | Marlborough | Beverly | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
42,665Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Beverly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 6% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Beverly 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 | #215 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Beverly | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| 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.