Compare towns
Worcester vs Enfield vs Middlesex vs Elmore
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).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Enfield | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,475Highest |
1,943 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Middlesex 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% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield 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% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,800±$71kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Enfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Elmore and Worcester 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #5 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None 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.