Compare towns

Dummerston vs Sunapee 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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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.

MeasureDummerstonSunapeeCalais
People
Population
2,090
3,416Highest
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Sunapee 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%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
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%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee 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%
50.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
Dummerston and Sunapee 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
$393,000±$51kHighest
18% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
Sunapee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,713±$451Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
Sunapee and Calais 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.
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%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.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
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 — #14 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Sunapee School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Sunapee Sr. High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.