Compare towns
Shelburne vs Buckland vs Berlin
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).
Buckland has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
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 | Shelburne | Buckland | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567Lowest |
2,036 |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
49.5±5.4Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8 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% |
17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 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% |
26.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 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% |
43.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest 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±$4k 20% below MA |
$82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,761 21% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 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% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | Mohawk Trail | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.