Compare towns
Townsend vs Berlin vs East Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Townsend | Berlin | East Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,880Lowest |
14,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.6±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$133,853±$9kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$510,200±$32kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,981±$671Highest 40% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,522Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| East Bridgewater 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #204 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | East Bridgewater |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.