Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Lenox vs Worcester
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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Dummerston | Lenox | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090 |
5,079Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Calais 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 |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Lenox 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | — | — | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lenox | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
— |
| 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.