Compare towns
Middlesex vs Hingham vs Dummerston vs Montpelier
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Hingham | Dummerston | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
24,283Highest |
2,090 |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Dummerston 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% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$113Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hingham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.