Compare towns
Middlefield vs Middlesex vs Peru vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Middlesex | Peru | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
1,943Highest |
630 |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 58% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Middlefield 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 | — | Gateway |
| High school 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.