Compare towns
Bolton vs Auburn vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Bolton | Auburn | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
16,970Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Auburn | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Auburn Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.