Compare towns
Shelburne vs Upton vs Berlin vs Nahant
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Upton | Berlin | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,567Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,378 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Upton and Berlin 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% 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±$105 39% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston | Nahant |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.