Compare towns
Calais vs Gorham vs Putney 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 the most people working from home (23.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Gorham | Putney | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
18,300Highest |
2,622 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Westford 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 |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Gorham 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.