Compare towns
Reading vs Berlin vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Reading | Berlin | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,378Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$262,200±$24kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,595Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Berlin-Boylston | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.