Compare towns

Calais vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureCalaisPutnamDummerston
People
Population
1,713
540Lowest
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Putnam 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%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
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%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Putnam 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.
$92,344±$14kLowest
14% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
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
17% above U.S.
$266,200±$48kLowest
20% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
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.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,392±$126Lowest
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
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Dummerston 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%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 History 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.