Compare towns
Bolton vs Sutton vs Carlisle
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Sutton | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Highest |
2,239Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Sutton 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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 154% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kLowest 61% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,652Lowest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Kearsarge Regional School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.