Compare towns
Bolton vs Worcester vs Arlington
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 ($111k).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Worcester | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
207,055Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 7% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±4Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Arlington 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Arlington 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. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 8% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.