Compare towns
Middlesex vs Smithville 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Smithville | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,525 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Smithville 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. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% 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. |
$4,254Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Worcester 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.