Compare towns

Dummerston vs Moretown vs Townsend 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).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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.

MeasureDummerstonMoretownTownsendMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
1,532Lowest
9,100Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
46.8±3.8Highest
20% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Moretown 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%
17.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
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%
18%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
58.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
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.
$104,423±$7k
29% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% 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
$380,800±$36k
14% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Townsend and Moretown 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
$838±$462Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,333±$359
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.
$5,506
77% above U.S.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
16.1%±14.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Dummerston 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%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
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 — — #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 North Middlesex Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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 Our Story 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.