Compare towns
Dummer vs Calais vs Windham vs Columbia
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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 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 | Dummer | Calais | Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
1,713Highest |
594 |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Columbia 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Columbia 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±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
— | $792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Calais and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Windham 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.