Compare towns
Stow vs Bolton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
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 | Stow | Bolton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
5,737 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
| Bolton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.