Compare towns

Middlesex vs Sutton vs Worcester 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%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexSuttonWorcesterDummerston
People
Population
1,943
9,452Highest
831Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Worcester 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%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
52.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Sutton 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.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Middlesex 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #105 of 282 in MA — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Sutton Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Sutton High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6
— —
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.