Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Berlin vs Rowley
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 most affordable homes ($403k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Berlin | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
3,378 |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Rowley 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Rowley 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% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Berlin-Boylston | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.