Compare towns
Dummerston vs Peru vs Chesterfield 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Peru | Chesterfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
434Lowest |
3,622Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Peru 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. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 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 | — | — | #52 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Chesterfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.