Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cornish vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Brookline has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Cornish | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,816 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.