What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	1,407Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.3±6Highest 39% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
	Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester 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 NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester 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±$21kHighest 12% below NY	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
	Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,459Highest 47% below NY	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester 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 NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 22% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Middlesex and Worcester 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)	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.