Compare towns
Dummerston vs Thornton vs Middlesex vs Westford
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Thornton | Middlesex | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,799Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Middlesex 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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 |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Dummerston 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. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None 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.