Compare towns

Berlin vs Danvers vs Bolton

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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.

MeasureBerlinDanversBolton
People
Population
3,378Lowest
28,098Highest
5,737
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+15.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8Highest
24% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
41.2±1.7Lowest
3% above MA
Berlin and Danvers 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%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
25%±3.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Berlin and Danvers 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
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$205,449±$31kHighest
98% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55kLowest
10% above MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$796,000±$49kHighest
42% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$1,583±$1kLowest
10% below MA
Berlin and Danvers 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
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
12.7%±45.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
94.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1988
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
17% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
29.1%±6.8
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
40.5%±6.9Highest
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 #91 of 282 in MA #28 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Nashoba
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
12.0Lowest
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.