Compare towns
Barnard vs Lowell vs Worcester 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
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.
| Measure | Barnard | Lowell | Worcester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
14.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.