Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bridgewater vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Bridgewater | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Dummerston 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% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfound Area 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.