Bay State Atlas ← All 194 towns
Town comparison · Massachusetts

Berlin vs Clinton

Central MA · Central MA
Even split (3–3) on headline livability metrics

On the six headline livability metrics, Berlin and Clinton split the table evenly. This is a real tradeoff, not a ranking. Median homes in Clinton run roughly $215k cheaper than in Berlin, about 33% less. Schools tilt clearly toward Berlin (80 vs. 65).

The two towns at a glance

Berlin

Central MA · pop. 3,158
Among the smallest towns in Worcester County, Berlin is an apple orchard and farmstand kind of place with large lots, old farmhouses, and one of the most rural characters in this dataset. The Berlin-Boylston school district serves both towns.
51
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Berlin profile →

Clinton

Central MA · pop. 15,563
Clinton is a genuine mill town on the South Branch Nashua River with the lowest home prices in this dataset and a dense downtown that retains more commercial activity than comparable working-class towns. The Wachusett Reservoir borders the town and provides striking views.
49
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Clinton profile →

Head-to-head: every metric

Berlin Clinton
Headline
Livability index 51 50
Economics
Median home $655k $440k
Household income $122k $92k
Price ÷ income 5.4× 4.8×
Tax burden 63 65
Schools & Safety
Schools 80 65
Safety 90 68
Getting around
Commute to Boston 58 min 60 min
Walkability 12 38
Transit 8 8
Biking 25 32
Lifestyle
Dining 25 48
Nightlife 18 35
Arts & culture 18 28
Green space 55 25
Community
Diversity 18 42
Climate 71 70
5-yr trend 65 58

Clay = wins this metric. Direction matters: lower median home and shorter commute are better; everything else, higher is better.

Compare on your terms

These winners are based on a neutral, equal weighting of every metric. Your priorities are not neutral. Open Berlin vs Clinton in the interactive atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and watch the verdict change.

Stuck between Berlin and Clinton?

I'm Gary Fikes, a licensed real estate agent at MP Signature Realty and the curator of this site. I've walked both towns. Tell me what matters most and I'll give you a straight answer within 1 business day. No auto-dialer, no spam, no resale.

About this comparison

Bay State Atlas ranks 194 Massachusetts towns using public data (Census ACS, MA DESE schools, Walk Score, MA Department of Revenue tax data, and the FBI UCR safety index) normalized to 0–100. Every weight is editable. This page is a static, indexable snapshot. The live tool is faster and lets you customize what counts.