Compare towns
Northborough vs Berlin vs Longmeadow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k 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 | Northborough | Berlin | Longmeadow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750Highest |
3,378Lowest |
15,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.7Lowest 12% above MA |
| Berlin and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Longmeadow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Longmeadow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$149,601±$24k 44% above MA |
| Northborough and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$454,100±$20kLowest 19% below MA |
| Northborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 9% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,682±$423Lowest 5% below MA |
| Berlin and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,983 33% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$9,236Highest 54% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
58%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Longmeadow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.7%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Longmeadow 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #51 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Berlin-Boylston | Longmeadow |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | None in town | Longmeadow High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.