Compare towns

Dummerston vs Cornwall vs Sturbridge 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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonCornwallSturbridgeMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
1,208Lowest
9,960Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
50.4±4.6Highest
30% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Cornwall and Sturbridge 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%
18.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall 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%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Sturbridge 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.
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Cornwall and Sturbridge 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
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% 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.
$6,726Highest
116% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
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 — — #89 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Sturbridge · Tantasqua Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.7
—
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.