Compare towns
Berlin vs Windham vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Windham has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).
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 | Windham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Windham 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 50% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 85% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933 71% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Windham School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.