Compare towns
Dummer vs Needham vs Windsor vs Stark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Dummer | Needham | Windsor | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299 |
32,459Highest |
254Lowest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40.2±18.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±14.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$103,750±$40k 29% above U.S. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$337,500±$40k about the U.S. average |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,381 8% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±16.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Windsor 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Stark School District |
| High school 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.