Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Chaplin vs Berlin vs Goshen
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 expensive homes ($617k median).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
2,070 |
3,378Highest |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 29% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
58±5.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Goshen 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamsburg and Chaplin 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%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goshen and Berlin 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% |
47.5% 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.7 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$98,906±$10k 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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. |
$351,900±$25k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$869±$727Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chaplin 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. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,022 61% 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% |
60%±66.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Goshen 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest 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. |
1961 19 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. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| 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% |
19.1%±7.2 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 | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Berlin-Boylston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.