Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Webster vs Berlin vs Rowley
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster | Berlin | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
17,748Highest |
3,378 |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Rowley 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%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| 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 28% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above 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 |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% 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 | $5,761 4% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 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 |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.