Compare towns
Calais vs Hanson vs Middlesex vs Dummerston
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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hanson | Middlesex | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
10,660Highest |
1,943 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 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% |
19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest 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% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Middlesex 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Calais 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Whitman-Hanson | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.