Compare towns
Jackson vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Sandwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Sandwich has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Jackson | Middlesex | Worcester | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
1,757 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
63.6±2.8Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
46.6%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3 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 | $117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$140,694±$22kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$437,700±$79k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,679±$1k 19% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,494 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±41.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandwich and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandwich and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jackson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.