Compare towns
Pelham vs Berlin vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most kids (21% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Pelham | Berlin | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
3,378Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Berlin 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 | Pelham | Berlin-Boylston | Williamsburg |
| 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 |
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.