Compare towns
Calais vs Cornish vs Westford
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%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Cornish | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,816 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Westford 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Westford 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Cornish 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | Cornish School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.