Compare towns
Tyringham vs Berlin vs Lee vs Monterey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Monterey has the oldest population (median age 62.3).
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 | Tyringham | Berlin | Lee | Monterey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494Lowest |
3,378 |
5,719Highest |
954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
62.3±14Highest 56% above MA |
| Monterey and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
11.2%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±4.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$152,353±$89k 47% above MA |
| Tyringham and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$603,200±$57k 7% above MA |
| Tyringham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,762±$128 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632 23% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±85.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±16.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Tyringham 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.