Compare towns

Middlesex vs Strafford vs Worcester vs Moretown

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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Moretown has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexStraffordWorcesterMoretown
People
Population
1,943
4,306Highest
831Lowest
1,532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
46.8±3.8
20% 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%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Strafford 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%
19.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18%±2.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Strafford 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.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$104,423±$7k
29% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$380,800±$36k
14% above U.S.
Strafford and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$838±$462Lowest
41% below U.S.
Strafford and Middlesex 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.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,506
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
16.1%±14.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer 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.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.4
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 — #73 of 120 in NH — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Strafford School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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.