Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lee vs Middlesex vs Westford
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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Dummerston | Lee | Middlesex | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
5,719Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dummerston 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Middlesex 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. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.