What stands out worked out from the figures below

Greenfield has the most affordable homes ($350k median).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	1,730Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±2.9Highest 28% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Greenfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Greenfield and Middleton 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%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton 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.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$350,300±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,135±$79Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,264Lowest 133% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±21.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Greenfield and Middleton 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%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.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	15.9%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Greenfield and Middleton 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.