Compare towns
Dummerston vs Mendon vs Plainfield 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 people working from home (25.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,113Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Calais 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Plainfield 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. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Plainfield School District | 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 | 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.