Compare towns
Boylston vs Harvard vs Berlin
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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Boylston | Harvard | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948 |
6,927Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Boylston 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Harvard | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.