Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cornish vs Strafford
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 most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Cornish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,816 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Strafford 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% |
53.3% 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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above 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 | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cornish School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.