Compare towns
Bolton vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dedham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
25,237Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.