Compare towns
Middleton vs Douglas vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Middleton | Douglas | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
9,207Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504 76% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Wakefield 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Middleton School District | Douglas | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.