Compare towns
Worcester vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | North Hampton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,543Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Middlesex 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and North Hampton 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% 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% |
| 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Hampton 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.