What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most kids (13.3% under 18).

Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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	Washington	Middlefield
People
Population	526Highest	352Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±7.7Lowest 41% above MA	56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA
	Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average
	Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA	$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA
	Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,625±$1k 49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA	$4,926Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.