Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
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 | Washington | Middlesex | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,943Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Washington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | 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 | 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.