Compare towns
Middlesex vs Lynn vs Berlin 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
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Lynn | Berlin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
101,709Highest |
2,880 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn 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% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lynn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #277 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lynn | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0 |
— | — |
| 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.