Compare towns
Bolton vs Peabody 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 highest household income ($205k).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peabody | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
54,695Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Peabody 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 MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody 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±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Peabody 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 |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Berlin 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Berlin 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Peabody | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.