What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.

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

Measure	Stoddard	Middleton
People
Population	1,072Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoddard and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleton and Stoddard 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoddard School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.