Compare towns
Dummerston vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
8,183Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Sterling 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wachusett | 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 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.