Compare towns
Dummerston vs Salem vs Sandgate 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).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Salem | Sandgate | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,611Highest |
435Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Salem 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Sandgate 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$948±$40Lowest 33% 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 | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.