Compare towns
Boylston vs Everett vs Berlin vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Boylston | Everett | Berlin | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
50,045Highest |
3,378Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
| Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Northborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA |
| Berlin and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,983Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Everett | Berlin-Boylston | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Everett High | None in town | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.