Compare towns
Shelburne vs Berlin vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Buckland has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
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 | Shelburne | Berlin | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567Lowest |
3,378Highest |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
49.5±5.4Lowest 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Buckland and Berlin 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%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest 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±$4k 20% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,761 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.