What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Hartwick has the most affordable homes ($174k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middlesex	Hartwick
People
Population	1,943Lowest	2,143Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.3±5.4Highest 27% above U.S.
	Hartwick and Middlesex 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%	13%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Hartwick 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%	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Hartwick 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.	$81,196±$6kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.	$173,500±$36kLowest 48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,000±$174Lowest 29% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Hartwick 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.	$2,912Lowest 7% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartwick and Middlesex 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Hartwick 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.