Compare towns
Middlesex vs Webster 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 highest household income ($110k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
17,748Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Webster 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% |
25.3%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%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.