Compare towns
Berlin vs Salisbury vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($466k median).
Bolton has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,656 |
5,737Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 17% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Nashoba |
| High school 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.