Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
154,749Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| 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 19% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below 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%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Springfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.