Compare towns
Middlesex vs Paxton vs Dummerston vs Calais
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%).
Paxton has the highest household income ($134k).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Paxton | Dummerston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
5,002Highest |
2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest 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 | — | #219 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wachusett | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.