Compare towns
Calais vs Colrain vs Halifax 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 the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Colrain | Halifax | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,627 |
847Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Dummerston 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below 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 | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Dummerston 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 | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District | 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.