Compare towns
Calais vs Colrain vs Worcester vs Elmore
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 the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.
| Measure | Calais | Colrain | Worcester | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,627 |
831Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Calais 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore 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. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.