Compare towns
Calais vs Gorham vs Worcester 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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Gorham | Worcester | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
18,300Highest |
831Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Westford 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. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% 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. |
1976Lowest 4 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 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | None yet | 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.