Compare towns
Rowley vs Needham 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Berlin | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,378 |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%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 |
1965 1 yr newer 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 |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Berlin-Boylston | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.