What stands out worked out from the figures below

Greenfield has the most renters (15.4% rent).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Greenfield	Middlesex
People
Population	1,730Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±2.9Highest 28% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Greenfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,603±$8kLowest 28% above U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$350,300±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,135±$79Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,264Highest 133% above U.S.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±21.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Greenfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	15.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Greenfield 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
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.