Compare towns
Calais vs Canaan 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
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Canaan | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
3,811Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest 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+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below 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 | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$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 | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.