Compare towns
Townsend vs Rupert 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
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Townsend | Rupert | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
676Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Rupert 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.