Compare towns
Rowley vs Reading vs Berlin vs Pelham
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%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k 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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
25,612Highest |
3,378 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest 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 |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Pelham 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% |
26.7%±6.9 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+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% 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%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% 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 | $6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% 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 |
1958 6 yrs older 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%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Reading | Berlin-Boylston | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.