Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Needham
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Needham 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% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Calais 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest 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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.