What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Troy	Middlesex
People
Population	1,749Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$75,750±$21kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S.	$208,100±$62kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.	$1,406±$672Highest about the U.S. average
	Middlesex and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Highest 17% above U.S.	$3,459Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.1%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Troy School District	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
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.