Compare towns
Middlesex vs Worcester vs Westport
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%).
Westport has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
1,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
52.7±5Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Westport 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%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% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$71,146±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$237,100±$46kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$895±$71Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,135Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westport 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older 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% |
11.7%±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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | BOQUET VALLEY CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.