Compare towns
Webster vs Dalton 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 people working from home (17.1%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Webster | Dalton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
6,256Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$312,300±$27k 6% below U.S. |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,504 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Central Berkshire | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.