Compare towns
Bolton vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
10,048Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| Carlisle and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Ware 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| Bolton and Carlisle 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ware | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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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.