Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Townsend vs Chesterfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Townsend | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
9,100Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% 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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.