Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Gardner | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
21,148Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Gardner 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 about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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 28% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% 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 | $5,761 4% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Gardner | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.