Compare towns
Calais vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Pepperell | Dummerston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
11,663Highest |
2,090 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% 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. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
43.8%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% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Barnard 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 |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Dummerston 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
34 minHighest 28% 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% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | 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.