Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lowell vs Worcester 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).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% 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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% 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% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% 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% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
14.6Lowest |
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| 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.