Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Northbridge vs Monkton
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Northbridge | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Northbridge 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 |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Northbridge 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | — | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northbridge | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
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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.