What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mercer	Middlesex
People
Population	718Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mercer and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,500±$32kLowest 28% below U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$249Highest about the U.S. average	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Mercer and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.5%±74Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mercer and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	20.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	—	None in town
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.