Compare towns
Monument Beach vs Berlin vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monument Beach has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k 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 | Monument Beach | Berlin | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,277Lowest |
3,378Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.7Lowest 17% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±7.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Monument Beach and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Monument Beach and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monument Beach and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,167±$14kLowest 26% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Berlin and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $559,900±$66k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
| Berlin and Monument Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,704±$162Lowest 3% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Berlin and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,440Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±98.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Monument Beach and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 5.4%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.