Compare towns
Dummerston vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
648Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dummerston 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 | Nelson 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 |
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.