Compare towns
Webster vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
6,251Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Triton | 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.