Compare towns
Dummerston vs Strafford vs Sutton 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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,372Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Strafford 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% 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. |
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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.