Compare towns

Worcester vs Strafford vs Middlesex vs St. George

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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterStraffordMiddlesexSt. George
People
Population
831
4,306Highest
1,943
812Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
44.7±13.4
15% above U.S.
Worcester and Strafford 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%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. George and Middlesex 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%
19.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.7Lowest
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%
40.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and St. George 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.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$109,464±$34k
36% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$376,800±$50k
13% above U.S.
Strafford and St. George 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.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,394±$132
about the U.S. average
Strafford and St. George 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.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$5,514
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
96%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. George and Strafford 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and St. George 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 — #73 of 120 in NH — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Strafford 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 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.