Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Troy has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bennington | Middlesex | Worcester | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
2,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4 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 | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,229 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.