Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex 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 most renters (22.7% rent).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Middlesex | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,943Lowest |
5,737Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer 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% |
28.4%±10.7Lowest 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 | — | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.