Compare towns
Calais vs Arkwright vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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 | Calais | Arkwright | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
859 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Arkwright and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arkwright and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.


