Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Chaplin vs Berlin vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Chaplin | Berlin | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
2,070Lowest |
3,378 |
4,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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±$37k 21% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 85% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.