Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Douglas
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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Middlesex | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Douglas 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Douglas 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Douglas and Worcester 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| 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.