Compare towns
Sagamore vs Washington vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sagamore has the most kids (20% under 18).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Sagamore | Washington | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,072Highest |
526Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±5.8Lowest 20% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Washington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sagamore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sagamore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,315±$38k 4% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Sagamore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,700±$56k about the MA average |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Sagamore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,123±$330Lowest 20% above MA |
— | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Sagamore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,796 20% below MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±73.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sagamore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Sagamore 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 | — | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.