Town · Massachusetts
Middleton, Massachusetts
Middleton, town, in Essex County, Massachusetts. Middleton had 9,895 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,779 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,816 (±20). GEOID 2500941095.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,895
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,779 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,816 ±20
Median household income
$167,402
±$28,705 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$742,700
±$47,775 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,407
±$284 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Middleton and what county is it in?
Middleton is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts. It covers 13.4 square miles of land, 727 residents per square mile in 2020.
Middleton is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Middleton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,895 people lived in Middleton on July 1, 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, slower than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 9,779 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,816 (±20).
| Measure | Middleton | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,816±20 | 813,054 | −56 |
| Households | 3,172±169 | 313,147 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.77±0.15 | 2.54 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,300±172 | 329,776 | no clear change |
Middleton's population since 2000
From 7,744 in 2000 to 9,895 in 2025: up 27.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Middleton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Middleton?
The median resident of Middleton is 43.1 years old; 17.2% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.0%. 9.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Middleton | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1±2.0 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.2%±2.5 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1%±3.2 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Male | 58.0%±2.0 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.0%±2.4 pts | 24.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.9%±3.6 pts | 64.5% | −8.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.2%±1.0 pts | 3.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.2%±2.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.4%±2.4 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.4%±2.9 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.2%±1.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.1%±2.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1%±1.3 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.9%±2.6 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.7%±4.3 pts | 43.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.5%±3.4 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.5%±3.0 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Middleton earn?
Half of Middleton's 3,172 households earn less than $167,402 a year (±$28,705), against $101,883 in Essex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $154,088 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Middleton | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $167,402±$28,705 | $101,883 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $198,329±$19,976 | $140,098 | – |
| Per capita income | $64,840±$6,681 | $54,665 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.4%±1.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0%±2.5 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.4%±2.8 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.2%±2.7 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.5%±3.0 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Middleton?
Owners occupy 92.7% of Middleton's occupied homes and renters 7.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $742,700 by its owner (±$47,775). The median renter pays $1,407 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Middleton | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $742,700±$47,775 | $619,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,407±$284 | $1,756 | −$710 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 25.7%±23.7 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,587±$214 | $2,867 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.7%±3.3 pts | 63.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.3%±3.3 pts | 36.5% | – |
| Housing units | 3,300±172 | 329,776 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±14.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.8%±5.2 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.9%±3.6 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.0%±5.3 pts | 34.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.2%±1.1 pts | 9.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Middleton building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Middleton in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.8 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Middleton work and get to work?
79.4% of Middleton's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Middleton | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.6%±3.6 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±2.4 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.4%±4.7 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.0%±2.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.5%±3.3 pts | 16.4% | +6.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.1 min±2.3 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Middleton?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Middleton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $164,423 (Tract 2121.01) to $177,500 (Tract 2121.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2121.02Essex County | 5,007 | $177,500 |
| Tract 2121.01Essex County | 4,809 | $164,423 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Middleton) · Census block assignment files
How does Middleton compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Middleton is the 1,244th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 102nd-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Middleton ranks 63rd of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 102nd | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 169th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 258th | 461 |
| Median household income | 63rd | 453 |
| Per capita income | 144th | 460 |
| Median home value | 93rd | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 256th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 295th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 285th | 459 |
| Median age | 281st | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 44th | 460 |
| Work from home | 326th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 226th | 459 |
Middleton's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Middleton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Middleton?
13 of the 57 figures for Middleton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Middleton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.