Compare towns
Middlesex vs Needham vs Newton 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 homeowners (96.7%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Needham | Newton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above 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 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Newton and Needham 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. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Needham and Newton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Newton 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Newton 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Newton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Newton North High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
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| 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.