Compare towns

Calais vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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.

MeasureCalaisWakefieldDummerston
People
Population
1,713Lowest
5,405Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
49.4±4.1Highest
27% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Wakefield 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%
18.7%±3.9Lowest
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%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
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%
26.2%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%
1.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
$100,976±$11k
25% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
Dummerston and Wakefield 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.
$322,800±$43kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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
$1,375±$434Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126
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.
$2,954Lowest
5% below U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
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%
96.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #118 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Wakefield 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.