Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Chesterfield
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chesterfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Chesterfield 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District |
| 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.