Compare towns
Dummerston vs Thornton vs Monkton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Monkton has the highest household income ($120k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Thornton | Monkton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,799Highest |
1,999 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Monkton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Monkton 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 |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Monkton 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120 8% 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. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Monkton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.



