Compare towns
Middlesex vs Exeter vs Westford vs Berlin
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Exeter | Westford | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,290 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Westford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Westford and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.