Compare towns
Bolton vs Everett vs Upton vs Carlisle
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%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k median).
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 | Everett | Upton | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
50,045Highest |
8,189 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Upton and Carlisle 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% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Carlisle 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Carlisle 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Everett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Everett High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
12.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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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.