Compare towns
Calais vs Dedham vs Dummerston vs Westford
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Dummerston | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
25,237Highest |
2,090 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Dedham 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% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.