Compare towns
Bolton vs Epping vs Dover vs Berlin
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Epping | Dover | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
7,430Highest |
5,930 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Epping 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933 71% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Epping School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.