Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Middlesex vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Jaffrey | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest 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 | $92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 32% 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 | $6,196 99% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jaffrey and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.