Compare towns
Chapman vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Chapman | Middlesex | Worcester | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,943Highest |
831 |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.