What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Calais	Lowell
People
Population	1,713Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42±8.6Highest 8% above U.S.	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Calais and Lowell 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%	21.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Calais and Lowell 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%	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lowell and Calais 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.	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average
	Calais and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Lowell and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.
	Lowell 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.	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Lowell
High school in town	None in town	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.