Compare towns

New Durham vs Calais vs Brookfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

MeasureNew DurhamCalaisBrookfield
People
Population
2,748Highest
1,713
567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±7.5
20% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
Brookfield and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
8.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
38.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±5
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,194±$13k
24% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$81,406±$31kLowest
about the U.S. average
Calais and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,400±$27kLowest
about the U.S. average
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$428,000±$61kHighest
29% above U.S.
Brookfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$116Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,408±$392Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
New Durham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,774Lowest
85% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$5,926
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±42.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
Calais and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school 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.