Compare towns

Dummerston vs Hampden 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).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonHampdenCalais
People
Population
2,090
4,946Highest
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
50.9±3.3Highest
31% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Hampden 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%
14%±3.5Lowest
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%
26.8%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampden 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%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Hampden 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.
$104,536±$16kHighest
29% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
Hampden 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
$358,200±$16k
8% above U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Calais and Hampden 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
$1,132±$107Lowest
20% 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
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,181
98% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
36.9%±42.4Lowest
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%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±3.7Lowest
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 — #199 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Hampden-Wilbraham Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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

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.