Compare towns
Andover vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most renters (11.6% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Andover | Calais | Middlesex | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,135 |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 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 | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| 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.