What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfields	Berlin
People
Population	2,023Lowest	3,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$121,336±$12kLowest 50% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$616,600±$55kLowest 85% above U.S.
	Newfields and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.	$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S.
	Berlin and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,116Lowest 128% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Berlin and Newfields 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	—	#61 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.