Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Brookfield | Dummerston | Middlesex | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,943 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 90% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington 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 | 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.