Compare towns
Middlesex vs Hampton 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 the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Hampton | Worcester | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
16,426Highest |
831Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest 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. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%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% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Hampton 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% 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% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% 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% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.