Compare towns
Dummerston vs Plainfield vs Middlesex 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,314Lowest |
1,943 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chesterfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 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. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | — | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District |
| 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.