Compare towns
Dummerston vs Kennebunk vs Calais vs Middlesex
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).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Kennebunk | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
11,820Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Calais 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. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Middlesex 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 21 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.