Compare towns
Charlton vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Charlton | Dummerston | Middlesex | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617 48% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 282 in MA | — | — | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Holbrook |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | None in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| 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.