Compare towns
Calais vs Wells 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 the youngest population (median age 42).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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.
| Measure | Calais | Wells | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Wells 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%±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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.