Compare towns
Lempster vs Middlesex vs Unity vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Lempster | Middlesex | Unity | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,375 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 46% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lempster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Unity School District | Washington 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 | 4 photos → | 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.