Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex vs Union vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Union has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Washington | Middlesex | Union | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,943 |
2,663Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
33.5±11.3Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Washington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somerville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$218,100±$41k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,583±$265Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Somerville and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,505 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±58.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.