Berlin #45: Central MA’s Best Communities

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Best Communities Team

One of the smaller Central Mass towns, 45th ranked Berlin is home to great farms, a community garden and walking trails. Despite the rural nature of the town, Berlin is close to Routes 290 and 495, making it an ideal place to live and raise a family.  The town is celebrating its Bicentennial this year.  

Memorial Hall, the town hall until 1998, is now used by local scout troops as well as several other community organizations including two contra dance groups.
 

Established: 1812
Population: 2866
Median household income: $92,917
Median housing price: $352,500

2012 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 45
Affordability ranking: 64
Education ranking: 35
Economic condition ranking: 18
Safety ranking: 33
Arts & Culture ranking: 25
Restaurant ranking: 64

History in a nutshell:
The town of Berlin, which just celebrated its bicentennial, has a distinct identity of witches, shoe makers and farmers. Situated between the Nausha and Assabet River Valleys, Berlin was an agricultural community, and in 1830, the tried and convicted witch, Abigail Sawyer, was hanged. Following the Civil War the town then became home to a bustling shoe factory. By 1885, the town reverted to its agricultural ways which focusing on the growing of asparagus, hops and raising chickens; the small town was producing about 84,000 dozen eggs annually by 1940.

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