Compare towns
Stow vs Berlin vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stow | Berlin | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Topsfield |
| 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.