Compare towns
Dummerston vs Exeter vs Calais vs Westford
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Exeter | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
913Lowest |
1,713 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Calais 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford 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 |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.