Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Danielson vs Berlin vs Rowley
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).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Danielson | Berlin | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
4,209 |
3,378 |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowley and Danielson 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% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±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% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson 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. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| 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±$37k 21% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| 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±$228 about the U.S. average |
$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Rowley 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. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 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 | #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 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.