Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Lancaster 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Lancaster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Putney 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nashoba | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.