Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lowell vs Middlesex vs Putney
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lowell | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
118,368Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.