Population 5,116 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bolton
Household size in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.93 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.06 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.02 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.89 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Bolton average 2.89 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Household size has edged down from 2.93 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Bolton has larger households than at least four in five Massachusetts cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Bolton is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 42.4, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.0% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.6% of households in Bolton, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only seven of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bolton
Renters in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.6 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Bolton is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 5.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly three in ten owners (27.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 7.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.2% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.8% of homes in Bolton are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Bolton is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Only six of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,159 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $968 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,495 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,480 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$321 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Bolton runs $1,480 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $321 a month from 2006–10, a 28% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bolton
Bachelor's degrees in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.7% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 66.6% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.1% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.0% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.3 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Bolton is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 16.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.4% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.5% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.8% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.9% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Bolton: 99.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bolton
| Period | Bolton | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bolton is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bolton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton | 2.89 | 41.5 | 3.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 1986 | $1,480 | 82.0% | 99.9% | 5.3% |
| South Bolton | 2.82 | 40.9 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 2.1% | 1983 | $1,895 | 84.6% | 99.8% | 7.3% |
| Still River | 2.75 | 46.1 | 3.4% | 9.4% | 14.3% | 1968 | $2,811 | 79.5% | 99.8% | 7.5% |
| Berlin | 2.36 | 49.2 | 5.5% | 22.2% | 3.3% | 1991 | $2,374 | 50.2% | 97.5% | 4.5% |
| Hudson | 2.46 | 44.2 | 5.8% | 26.9% | 6.2% | 1974 | $1,391 | 46.4% | 91.6% | 4.9% |
| Clinton | 2.33 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 45.2% | 4.2% | 1957 | $1,635 | 36.5% | 91.6% | 5.7% |
| Lancaster | 2.60 | 45.4 | 5.8% | 14.8% | 3.3% | 1979 | $2,205 | 51.4% | 97.0% | 8.7% |
| Stow | 2.62 | 45.1 | 8.9% | 14.7% | 2.0% | 1971 | $2,248 | 76.5% | 98.4% | 3.6% |
| Harvard | 2.93 | 43.4 | 2.5% | 9.3% | 7.8% | 1975 | $2,301 | 76.9% | 99.6% | 4.7% |
| Harvard Station | 2.98 | 36.7 | 3.2% | 5.8% | 9.8% | 1965 | $2,712 | 80.9% | 97.3% | 9.0% |
| Ponakin Mill | 2.32 | 39.5 | 1.0% | 14.7% | 2.0% | 1978 | $2,344 | 47.0% | 88.7% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockvale, TN · Dryden, MI · Russiaville, IN · Duncanville, AL · Dundee, FL · Russell, KS · Rush City, MN · Dyersville, IA · Roselawn, IN · Rootstown, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bolton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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