Compare towns
Calais vs Westbrook vs Middlesex 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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.
| Measure | Calais | Westbrook | Middlesex | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
20,775Highest |
1,943 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
18.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westbrook and Calais 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. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Westbrook 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±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Westbrook 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. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Westbrook 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | #115 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Westbrook Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.