Compare towns
Dummerston vs Acton vs Middlesex vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Acton | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
24,155Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.