Compare towns

Calais vs Dummerston vs Stratham 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

Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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.

MeasureCalaisDummerstonStrathamWorcester
People
Population
1,713
2,090
7,754Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%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%
3.9%±1.7
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.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham 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%
2.4%Lowest
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%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Stratham 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 — — #43 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.