What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Troy
People
Population	1,407Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S.	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Troy 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%	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Troy 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%	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Troy 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.	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Troy 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.	$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S.
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$672Highest about the U.S. average	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Troy 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.	$3,644Highest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.1%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%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.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)	Troy 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.