Compare towns
Middlefield vs Douglas vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middlefield | Douglas | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
9,207Highest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.