Compare towns
Stow vs Mansfield vs Berlin
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 highest household income ($186k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Stow | Mansfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
23,931Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Mansfield 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 |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mansfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.