Compare towns
Middleton vs Townsend vs Surry
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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Townsend | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595 |
9,100Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Middleton 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Middleton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Middleton School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.