Compare towns
Webster vs Reading 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
699Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$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±$30k about the U.S. average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Reading and Webster 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.