Essex County, Massachusetts
Middleton Homes For Sale
MA
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Population (2020 Census)
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Year Incorporated
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Median Home Sale Price (Redfin, May 2026)
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Land Area
Location
Where Middleton is Located
Live Listings
Homes For Sale in Middleton, MA
Listing information is provided by the MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listings displayed may be subject to prior sale or withdrawal.
A Local's Perspective
Middleton, Massachusetts: A Riverside Town Between Salem and Andover
Middleton was first settled by English colonists in 1659 and officially incorporated as a town in 1728, carved from portions of Salem, Topsfield, Boxford, and Andover. Its very name reflects its origin story: the town sits roughly midway between the important early Massachusetts settlements of Salem and Andover. The Ipswich River winds through the town center, and that river — along with Middleton Pond — has shaped both the town's early mill economy and its present-day character as a wooded, low-density North Shore community.
Middleton's historic character survives in a handful of well-preserved landmarks: the Thomas Fuller House, built in 1684, and the Deacon Edward Putnam Jr. House recall the town's earliest colonial families, while the Richardsonian Romanesque Flint Public Library — funded by a bequest from Charles L. Flint and opened in 1891 — was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. One of Massachusetts's oldest trees, an oak estimated at roughly 400 years old, still stands on Peabody Street. In 1969, Robert Trent Jones designed the championship 18-hole course at Ferncroft Country Club, which spans 287 acres across Middleton and neighboring Topsfield and hosted the LPGA's Boston Five Classic from 1980 to 1990.
Today Middleton remains a small, largely residential town of roughly 14 square miles with no municipal sewer system (all properties rely on private septic) and no MBTA commuter rail stop of its own — a point of local debate, since the town rejected MBTA Communities Act (Section 3A) multifamily zoning at town meetings in 2024 and, as of early 2026, remains one of a small number of Massachusetts communities still formally noncompliant, having lost a $2 million MassWorks grant and appealed the mandate to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. That low-density, semi-rural character keeps demand strong: as of May 2026, Redfin reported a median home sale price of $814,513 in Middleton, up 4.8% year-over-year.
At a Glance
- Population
- 9,779 (2020 U.S. Census)
- Land Area
- 14.0 sq mi (14.4 sq mi total with water)
- County
- Essex County, Massachusetts
- Property Tax Rate
- ≈$11.64 per $1,000 assessed value (effective rate ~1.29%, per Ownwell)
- Walkability
- Largely car-dependent; Walk Scores for individual addresses range from about 4 to 53, with the Middleton Center/Main Street area most walkable
Source-verified as of 2026-07-23.
Highlights
Why People Choose Middleton
Ferncroft Country Club
287-acre, Robert Trent Jones-designed 18-hole championship golf course (opened 1969) straddling Middleton and Topsfield; hosted the LPGA's Boston Five Classic from 1980-1990.
Flint Public Library
Richardsonian Romanesque library at 1 South Main Street, funded by an 1879 bequest from Charles L. Flint, opened in 1891, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Thomas Fuller House (1684)
One of the town's surviving 17th-century colonial homes, alongside the Deacon Edward Putnam Jr. House, marking Middleton's earliest settlement era.
Ipswich River
The river that runs through the town center, historically powering local mills and today shaping the town's rural, low-density feel.
400-Year-Old Oak, Peabody Street
One of Massachusetts's oldest documented trees, estimated at roughly 400 years old.
Rubchinuk Park
Town athletic complex with multiple baseball diamonds, a softball field with batting cage, and soccer fields, run by Middleton's Parks & Fields Division.
Neighborhoods
Middleton's Neighborhoods & Villages
Middleton Center
The town's historic village core along South Main Street, anchored by the Flint Public Library, Town Hall, and the Thomas Fuller House.
Ferncroft
Golf-course neighborhood surrounding Ferncroft Country Club along the Middleton/Topsfield line, with homes overlooking the fairways.
North Meadow Village / Village Estates
Middleton's cluster of 55+ active-adult and condominium communities, including North Meadow Village and the Village Estates condos (built 2009).
Lifestyle
Life in Middleton
Middleton's lifestyle centers on its river, its trees, and its low-key small-town pace rather than a walkable downtown strip — most day-to-day amenities involve a short drive to Danvers, Topsfield, or Salem.
Parks & Recreation
Parks in Middleton
Rubchinuk Park
- Multiple baseball diamonds
- Softball field with batting cage
- Soccer fields
Henry Tragert Town Common
- Town green / open common space
Fuller Meadow Recreation Area
- Playing fields adjacent to Fuller Meadow School
Schools
Schools Serving Middleton
Public Schools
Fuller Meadow School
Elementary (Grades K-2)
Howe-Manning School
Elementary/Middle (Grades 3-6)
Masconomet Regional Middle/High School (Topsfield)
Middle/High (Grades 7-12), tri-town district with Topsfield and Boxford
Private Schools
Bishop Fenwick High School (Peabody)
Private Catholic, Grades 9-12
Pingree School (South Hamilton)
Private/Independent day school, Grades 9-12
School assignments are subject to change — always verify directly with the school district before making a decision. Source (verified 2026-07-23)
HOA & Condo Communities
Middleton Associations
Middleton has a genuine, if modest, roster of condominium and 55+ active-adult communities rather than large single-family HOA subdivisions.
Village Estates Condos
Condominium community built in 2009.
North Meadow Village
55+ active-adult community.
Cobblestone Park
55+ community.
Nearby Communities
How Middleton Compares
Topsfield, MA
Adjacent town sharing the Masconomet Regional school district and a similar rural, semi-rural feel; home to the Topsfield Fair.
Boxford, MA
Also part of the Masconomet tri-town district, with larger lots and a higher average price point than Middleton.
Danvers, MA
A larger, more commercial and walkable neighbor (Liberty Tree Mall, MBTA-compliant zoning) just a 10-minute drive from Middleton.
North Andover, MA
A larger suburban town along Route 114 with its own school district and a historic town center, offering more inventory than Middleton.
FAQ
Middleton Real Estate — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Middleton, MA?
Third-party aggregator Ownwell lists Middleton's residential rate at roughly $11.64 per $1,000 of assessed value, for an effective tax rate near 1.29% — slightly above the Massachusetts state median. Buyers should confirm the current fiscal-year rate with the Middleton Assessors' office (978-774-2099).
How long is the commute from Middleton to Boston?
Boston is about 20-22 miles south via I-95 and Route 1. Off-peak drive times run 30-40 minutes, but the morning and evening commute can stretch to 60-75 minutes.
Is there flood risk in Middleton?
The Ipswich River runs through town and has a documented history of flooding low-lying areas during heavy rain and snowmelt events across the region. Buyers considering property near the river or Middleton Pond should check the property's FEMA flood zone designation.
How walkable is Middleton?
Middleton is largely car-dependent. Individual address Walk Scores range widely, from single digits in outlying residential areas up into the 50s ("Somewhat Walkable") near Middleton Center and South Main Street.
What is the price range for homes in Middleton?
As of mid-2026, Middleton's median home sale price was around $814,500 (Redfin) with average home values estimated between roughly $725,000 and $875,000 depending on the source, and prices trending upward year-over-year.
Does Middleton have town water and sewer?
Middleton has a municipal Water Division, but there is no municipal wastewater/sewer system — all properties rely on individual private septic systems, a factor worth budgeting for in home inspections.
What school district serves Middleton?
Middleton runs its own elementary schools (Fuller Meadow for K-2, Howe-Manning for grades 3-6) and then joins Topsfield and Boxford in the tri-town Masconomet Regional School District for grades 7-12.
Thinking About a Move to Middleton?
From Ferncroft's fairways to the banks of the Ipswich River, Middleton offers a quieter slice of the North Shore just minutes from Danvers and Salem. Connect with a Bentley's Real Estate agent to explore current listings and get a read on the local market.