Compare towns
Rowley vs Springfield vs Berlin
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 most homeowners (78.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
154,749Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Rowley 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.