Compare towns
Berlin vs Rowley 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).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Rowley | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
6,251Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% 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 |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Triton | 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 Our Story | 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.