Compare towns
Berlin vs Ogunquit vs Spencer 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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 | Ogunquit | Spencer | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,379Lowest |
12,008Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 71% above U.S. |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% 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%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | — | David Prouty High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.