What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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	Middleborough	Winchendon
People
Population	24,505Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
	Middleborough and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Winchendon and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA	$1,255±$163Lowest 29% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest about the MA average	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Middleborough and Winchendon 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleborough	Winchendon
High school in town	Middleborough High	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.