Compare towns
Worcester vs Rowe 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 renters (14.1% rent).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Rowe | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
453Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rowe 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% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowe 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% |
26.2%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% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,313±$576 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Rowe 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% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | Rowe | 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.