EXHIBIT 23

                          Independent Auditors' Consent




The Board of Directors
Central Bancorp, Inc.:


We consent to 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, 2002, relating to the consolidated  balance sheets of Central Bancorp,
Inc. and subsidiary as of March 31, 2002 and 2001, 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,  2002,  which  report is
included herein.




                                                        /s/ KPMG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
June 26, 2002