Compare towns
Middlesex vs Webster vs Berlin vs Westford
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%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Webster | Berlin | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
17,748Highest |
2,880 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.