Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cornish vs Worcester vs Westford
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Worcester | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,816 |
831Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Worcester 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Worcester 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±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex 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±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.