Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ashby vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Williamsburg | Ashby | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
3,211 |
3,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 25% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Ashby and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | North Middlesex | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None 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.