Compare towns
Dummerston vs Biddeford vs Putney vs Calais
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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Biddeford | Putney | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
22,498Highest |
2,622 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 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% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% 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 | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Biddeford and Calais 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 |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest 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 | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Biddeford Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.