Compare towns
Middlesex vs Needham vs Berlin vs Calais
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%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Berlin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
32,459Highest |
2,880 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Calais 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Calais 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% 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% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Calais 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Needham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.