Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Rowley vs Berlin vs Leverett
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).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Rowley | Berlin | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
6,251Highest |
3,378 |
1,608Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 25% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
| Leverett and Williamsburg 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$104,688±$18kLowest about the MA average |
| 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±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
| 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 19% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Williamsburg 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% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Leverett 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Triton | Berlin-Boylston | Leverett |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.