Compare towns
Dummer vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Groton has the most renters (8.7% rent).
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 | Dummer | Calais | Middlesex | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
1,713 |
1,943Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2 31% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$269,000±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.