Compare towns
Berlin vs Stow vs Boylston
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).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stow | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
7,165Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Boylston 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Stow and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.