Compare towns
Bolton vs Lowell vs Barnard
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 most affordable homes ($312k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
118,368Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 7% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 55% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Bolton 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Barnard 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lowell | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.