Compare towns
Berlin vs Bolton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Stow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,737 |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.