Compare towns
Dummerston vs North Reading 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).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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.
| Measure | Dummerston | North Reading | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
15,765Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above 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%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading and Dummerston 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest 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% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and North Reading 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. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and North Reading 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Reading | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.