Compare towns
Middlesex vs Acton vs Berlin vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Westford has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Middlesex | Acton | Berlin | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
24,155Highest |
2,880 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.