Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Webster | Berlin | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
3,378Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Berlin-Boylston | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.