Compare towns
Berlin vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Hanover | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
14,845Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Hanover 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 |
$189,803±$23k 83% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Hanover 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 |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Bolton and Hanover 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 |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Hanover 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 |
$9,342 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Berlin 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%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.