EXHIBIT 23



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT




The Board of Directors
Central Bancorp, Inc.:


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statements on
Form S-8 (333-87005 and 333-49264) of Central Bancorp, Inc. of our report, dated
April 25, 2003,  except as to the fifth paragraph of Note 8, which is as of June
23, 2003, with respect to the  consolidated  balance sheets of Central  Bancorp,
Inc. and subsidiary as of March 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related  consolidated
statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of
the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2003, which report appears in
the March 31,  2003  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Central  Bancorp,  Inc.  Our
report refers to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."


                                                      /s/ KPMG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
June 26, 2003