Compare towns
Bolton vs Salisbury vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k 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 | Salisbury | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
9,281Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn 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 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Bolton 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn and Salisbury 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Sherborn 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% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Triton | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.