What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Berlin
People
Population	9,100Lowest	9,383Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S.
	Berlin and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berlin and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Berlin School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.