Compare towns
Bolton vs Epping vs Berlin vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Epping | Berlin | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
7,430Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 154% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| 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 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| 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 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Epping School District | Berlin-Boylston | Harvard |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.