Compare towns
Washington vs Berlin vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Berlin | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
3,378Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Washington 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 | — |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | Florida |
| High school 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.