Compare towns
Berlin vs Bolton vs Wareham
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 renters (22.7% rent).
Bolton has the most kids (25% under 18).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,737 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Wareham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 17% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
| Berlin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Wareham |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.