Compare towns
Calais vs Eliot vs Middlesex
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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Eliot | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Middlesex 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Calais 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.