Compare towns
Berlin vs Bolton vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
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 | Berlin | Bolton | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,737 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.