Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hanover 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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
11,685Highest |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Calais 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% |
5.6% 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% |
73.7%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. |
1976 4 yrs 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 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below 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% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.