Compare towns
Putney vs Ashburnham vs Middlesex 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
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Putney | Ashburnham | Middlesex | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
6,415Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% 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 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #178 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.