Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jackson vs Salem 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).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Jackson | Salem | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,695Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% 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 |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% 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. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 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 | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.