Compare towns
Middlesex vs Worcester 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Moretown has the most expensive homes ($381k 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 | Worcester | Worcester | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
207,055Highest |
831Lowest |
1,532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.4 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% |
35.2%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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$104,423±$7k 29% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Moretown 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. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$380,800±$36kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Moretown and Middlesex 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. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$838±$462Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$4,733 52% 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% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.1%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 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. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— | — |
| 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.