Compare towns
Bolton vs Dover vs Upton 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Dover | Upton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
2,308Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Upton 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$31k 98% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
— | $948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.