Compare towns
Worcester vs Auburn vs Middlesex vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% 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 | Worcester | Auburn | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
6,119Highest |
1,943 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Auburn 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Auburn School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.