Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Thornton vs Middlesex
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Thornton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
2,799Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% 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% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% 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% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton 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 Our Story | 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.