Compare towns
Middlesex vs Reading 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 homeowners (96.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Reading | Moretown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
25,612Highest |
1,532 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Middlesex 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$104,423±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$380,800±$36k 14% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$838±$462Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,506 77% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.1%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%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. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Reading | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.