Compare towns
Berlin vs Harvard 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 most affordable homes ($617k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
6,927Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Berlin and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Harvard and Bolton 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 |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Harvard and Bolton 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 |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% 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 | $7,116Lowest 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% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Bolton 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.