Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dummerston vs Ashby
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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,090 |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Ashby 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Ashby 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% 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 | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Ashby 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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex |
| 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.