Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Needham vs Berlin vs Boylston
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Needham | Berlin | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,378 |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Berlin 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Needham | Berlin-Boylston | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.