Compare towns
Middlesex vs Lancaster vs Moretown vs Worcester
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Lancaster | Moretown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
3,216Highest |
1,532 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
46.8±3.8 20% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Moretown 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$104,423±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Moretown 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$380,800±$36kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Moretown 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$838±$462Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,506 77% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.1%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Worcester 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White Mountains Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.