Compare towns
Middlesex vs Salisbury vs Dummerston 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
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Salisbury | Dummerston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
9,281Highest |
2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 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+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Triton | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.