Compare towns
Berlin vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Needham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
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.