What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelburne	Berlin
People
Population	1,567Lowest	3,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA	49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA
	Shelburne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Berlin and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shelburne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Berlin and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA	$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA	$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA	$7,116Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Berlin and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 17% above MA
Work from home	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Berlin and Shelburne 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	Mohawk Trail	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.