Compare towns
Worcester vs Kensington 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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Kensington | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,009Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Kensington 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kensington 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 |
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.