Compare towns
Rowley vs Marblehead 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
Rowley has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Rowley | Marblehead | Berlin | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
20,413Highest |
3,378 |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
49.1±2 23% 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 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 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 | 6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Berlin-Boylston | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.