What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highland has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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	Highland	Middlesex
People
Population	2,234Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.4±4.4Highest 42% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highland and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,846±$26kLowest 21% below U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,000±$38kLowest 23% below U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$1kLowest 14% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,373Lowest 40% above U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.3%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Highland and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
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.