Compare towns
Rowley vs Reading vs Berlin vs Whately
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Whately has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Reading | Berlin | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
25,612Highest |
3,378 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Berlin and Whately 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Rowley 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Whately 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Berlin-Boylston | Whately |
| 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.