Compare towns
Bolton vs Dover vs Everett 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 most people working from home (40.5%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Dover | Everett | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
5,930 |
50,045Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bolton 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
| Dover and Berlin 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Everett | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| 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.