Compare towns
Worcester vs Henniker vs Middlesex
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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
6,197Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 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% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Henniker 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Henniker 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. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Henniker 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. |
$1,081±$164 23% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Henniker 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. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Henniker 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Henniker 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 Our Story | 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.