Compare towns
Shelburne vs Nahant 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 most affordable homes ($405k median).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Shelburne | Nahant | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567Lowest |
3,325 |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Nahant and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.7% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Nahant 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Nahant and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Berlin 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Nahant 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Nahant | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.