Compare towns
Dummerston vs Leyden vs Plainfield 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).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Leyden | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
637Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield 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% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 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% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leyden 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Leyden 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 |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Leyden 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 |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Dummerston 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. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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 23% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.