Compare towns
Calais vs Hampton Beach vs Worcester
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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Hampton Beach | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,605Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 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. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.