Compare towns
Bolton vs Douglas vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Douglas | Sutton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Sutton 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Douglas | Sutton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.