Compare towns
Middlesex vs Worcester vs Sutton
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 the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
831Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.