Compare towns
Bolton vs Windham vs Berlin
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 the highest household income ($205k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Windham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
19,188Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Windham 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 154% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 14 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| 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.