Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Grafton has the most kids (21% 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 | Springfield | Berlin | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
3,378Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 29% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Grafton 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 | — | Berlin-Boylston | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.