Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Methuen
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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest 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% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Methuen 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Calais 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Methuen |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.