Compare towns
Shrewsbury vs Berlin vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Shrewsbury | Berlin | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,876Highest |
3,378Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Shrewsbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Shrewsbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Shrewsbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,116±$98 20% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,923Lowest 16% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±6.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury 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 | #30 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Shrewsbury | Berlin-Boylston | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Shrewsbury High School | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.4Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.