Compare towns
Bolton vs Berlin vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Berlin | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
3,378Lowest |
6,927Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Harvard 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Berlin 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Bolton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Harvard |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.