Compare towns
Middlesex vs Pepperell vs Townsend 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%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,100 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Townsend 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.