Compare towns
Harmony vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Freehold
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harmony has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Freehold has the most affordable homes ($99k 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 | Harmony | Middlesex | Worcester | Freehold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,344Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-19.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.4±11.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Freehold and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Harmony and Freehold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freehold and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest 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 | $58,600±$11k 27% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$57,279±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $128,300±$15k 61% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$99,100±$34kLowest 70% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,805 10% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$1,515Lowest 51% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harmony and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.8%±2.7Lowest 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 | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.