Compare towns
Bath vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Bath | Middlesex | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
1,943Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Bath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bath and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Bath School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.