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Town comparison · Massachusetts

Berlin vs Bolton

Central MA · Central MA
Berlin leads 3–2 on headline livability metrics

Across the six headline livability metrics (schools, safety, walkability, biking, affordability, and commute), Berlin edges Bolton 3 to 2 with 1 tie. Median homes in Berlin run roughly $203k cheaper than in Bolton, about 24% less. Schools tilt clearly toward Bolton (90 vs. 80).

The two towns at a glance

Berlin

Central MA · pop. 3,158
Among the smallest towns in Worcester County, Berlin is an apple orchard and farmstand kind of place with large lots, old farmhouses, and one of the most rural characters in this dataset. The Berlin-Boylston school district serves both towns.
51
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Berlin profile →

Bolton

Central MA · pop. 5,665
Bolton is one of the wealthiest small towns in Massachusetts with median household incomes approaching $200k and home prices over $850k. Acre-plus lots, conservation trails through the Nashoba Valley, and excellent Nashoba district schools make this a premium rural retreat.
55
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Bolton profile →

Head-to-head: every metric

Berlin Bolton
Headline
Livability index 51 54 ✦
Economics
Median home $655k $858k ✦
Household income $122k $198k ✦
Price ÷ income 5.4× ✦ 4.3×
Tax burden 63 ✦ 60
Schools & Safety
Schools 80 90 ✦
Safety 90 92 ✦
Getting around
Commute to Boston 58 min ✦ 55 min
Walkability 12 ✦ 10
Transit 8 8
Biking 25 25
Lifestyle
Dining 25 25
Nightlife 18 20 ✦
Arts & culture 18 22 ✦
Green space 55 58 ✦
Community
Diversity 18 22 ✦
Climate 71 71
5-yr trend 65 72 ✦

Clay = wins this metric. Direction matters: lower median home and shorter commute are better; everything else, higher is better.

Compare on your terms

These winners are based on a neutral, equal weighting of every metric. Your priorities are not neutral. Open Berlin vs Bolton in the interactive atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and watch the verdict change.

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About this comparison

Bay State Atlas ranks 194 Massachusetts towns using public data (Census ACS, MA DESE schools, Walk Score, MA Department of Revenue tax data, and the FBI UCR safety index) normalized to 0–100. Every weight is editable. This page is a static, indexable snapshot. The live tool is faster and lets you customize what counts.