Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| 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±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| 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 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.