Compare towns

Calais vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

MeasureCalaisLymeDummerston
People
Population
1,713
1,710Lowest
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Lyme 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%
19.5%±3.4Lowest
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%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Lyme 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.
$133,906±$15kHighest
66% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Lyme 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.
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,418±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126Lowest
about the U.S. average
Lyme 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme 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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Dummerston 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 Lyme School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.