Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Peterborough
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 affordable homes ($335k median).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%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% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% 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±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Peterborough 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% 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% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 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 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.