Compare towns

Middlesex vs Worcester vs Newfields

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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexWorcesterNewfields
People
Population
1,943
831Lowest
2,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Newfields 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%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Worcester 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.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
Newfields and Middlesex 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.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfields 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%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Newfields 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 Newfields School District
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.