Compare towns
Berlin vs Everett vs Middlesex vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 33.9).
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 | Berlin | Everett | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
50,045 |
1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Everett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.