Compare towns
Charlton vs Middlesex vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Oxford has the most renters (17.2% rent).
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 | Charlton | Middlesex | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
1,943Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 282 in MA | — | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oxford |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.