Compare towns
Middlesex vs Temple 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%).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
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 | Temple | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,363 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Temple and Worcester 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% |
14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Temple 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. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Temple 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. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Temple 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.