Compare towns
Berlin vs Central Falls vs Bolton
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Central Falls | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
22,701Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Bolton 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% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls 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. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.