Compare towns
Berlin vs Westminster 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 renters (22.7% rent).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Westminster | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,374Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Berlin and Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Bolton 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 |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Berlin and Westminster 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Ashburnham-Westminster | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
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.