Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ashby vs Newfane vs Middlesex
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).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Middlesex has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Ashby | Newfane | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
3,211Highest |
1,456Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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 |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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 | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.