Compare towns
Calais vs Jay vs Windham vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Jay | Windham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
471Lowest |
16,038Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Marshfield 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Windham 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,317±$126Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,668 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Windham 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Marshfield 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.