Compare towns
Calais vs Lancaster vs Dummerston vs Barnard
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).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Dummerston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
8,606Highest |
2,090 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Calais 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nashoba | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.