Compare towns
Middlesex vs Worcester vs Everett 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%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 33.9).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above 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. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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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.