Compare towns

Calais vs Lyndeborough 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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.

MeasureCalaisLyndeboroughWorcester
People
Population
1,713Highest
1,616
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Worcester 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%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyndeborough and Calais 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%
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
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±$27k
25% above U.S.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Lyndeborough and Calais 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.
$390,900±$26kHighest
17% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Lyndeborough and Calais 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
$1,482±$457Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Lyndeborough and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Lyndeborough 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None 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.