Compare towns
Dummerston vs Barnstead vs Calais vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Dummerston | Barnstead | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,994Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% 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 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above 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 | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Calais and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barnstead 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 | 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.