Compare towns

Busti vs Calais 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

Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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.

MeasureBustiCalaisDummerston
People
Population
7,452Highest
1,713Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Busti and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
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+
23.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,292±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$164,600±$12kLowest
51% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
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.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,085±$106Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126
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
$3,876Lowest
24% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Busti and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Calais 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.