Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dalton vs Dummerston 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
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Dalton | Dummerston | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
6,256Highest |
2,090 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21k 26% 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 | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$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 | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.