Compare towns

Middlesex vs Newfields vs Strafford vs Dummerston

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%).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexNewfieldsStraffordDummerston
People
Population
1,943
2,023
1,372Lowest
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% 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
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
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+
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
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+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Dummerston 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 min
13% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Newfields School District Strafford School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.