What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($208k median).

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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	Middlesex	Strafford
People
Population	1,407Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,750±$21kLowest 6% below U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$208,100±$62kLowest 37% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$672Highest about the U.S. average	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,459Lowest 11% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.1%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)	Strafford School District
High school in town	None 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.