What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Otis	Middlesex
People
Population	1,624Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Otis and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,898±$6kLowest 35% above U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Otis and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,318±$924Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Otis and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Farmington River Reg	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.