Compare towns
Worcester vs Groton 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 renters (14.1% rent).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Groton | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
507Lowest |
1,943Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest 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. |
51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Groton and Worcester 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% |
15.4%±4.6 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% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%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%±2 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. |
$85,625±$21k 6% 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±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below 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% |
50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Elmore 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% 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. |
1984 4 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. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 |
| 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.