Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hancock vs Cornish 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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Hancock | Cornish | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,791 |
1,816 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Cornish 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% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%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%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$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 |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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 |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Contoocook Valley School District | Cornish School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.



